The Unchanging God in an Ever-Changing World

The Unchanging God in an Ever-Changing World

This morning, we headed across East London to worship at a different Salvation Army Corps (church). It had been nine months since I last preached and led a meeting, nine months since I last led the gathered church in worship. Nine months, filled with the twists and turns of life, with its joys and its sorrows, its trials and its triumphs. And yet, as I joined in gather worship with the congregation, there was a deep sense of homecoming, of stepping back into the embrace of something timeless and eternal.

A lot can change in nine months. Lives can be transformed, hearts can be broken and mended, dreams can rise and fall like the tides. The world around us is in constant motion, always shifting, always changing. But as we lifted our voices together in the opening song of "How Great Thou Art," I was reminded of a profound and comforting truth: God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

There is something about that hymn, that anthem of the church, that has the power to pierce through the noise and chaos of life. It’s more than just a song; it’s a testimony, a declaration of God’s greatness and faithfulness. As we sang those words—O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made—I could feel the presence of God settling over the meeting, wrapping around us like a warm blanket on a cold morning.

In this season of life, those words have taken on new meaning for me. They are a reminder that no matter what changes in my life, no matter how uncertain or unpredictable the path ahead may seem, God is steadfast. God’s love is unchanging, God’s grace is unwavering, and God’s promises are sure. God is the same God who walked with me through the valleys, who celebrated with me on the mountaintops, and who has been with me in every moment in between.

Standing before the congregation today, I felt a sense of deep gratitude for the privilege of preaching God’s word, of leading God’s people in gathered worship. It’s easy to take these moments for granted, to let them slip by without truly appreciating their significance. But today, I was reminded of the sacredness of this calling, of the profound responsibility and joy that comes with leading God’s people in worship.

As I preached, I could see the faces of those gathered, each one carrying their own stories, their own struggles and triumphs. And I was reminded that we are all on this journey together, walking hand in hand with the God who never changes, who is always faithful, always true. In a world that is constantly shifting, it is a comfort to know that we serve a God who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

This morning was a reminder that no matter how much time passes, no matter what changes may come, God is still God. God is still great, still worthy of our praise, still the solid rock on which we can stand. And for that, I am deeply thankful.

As we go about our lives in the days and weeks to come, we carry with us the truth of God’s unchanging nature. We find peace in God’s presence, strength in God’s promises, and joy in the knowledge that God is always with us. And may we never forget to lift our voices in praise, declaring with all our hearts, How great Thou art, how great Thou art.