As I sit here trying to decide what to write, I am looking out at a very gray, bleak winter sky. As the trees sway in the wind and the ice on the lake changes appearance daily, I am reminded of all the changes we experience in our lifetime.
With a bone-chilling minus 40 degrees one day and the next a balmy spring-like day in the 50’s, change has been all around us this winter. It is hard to adjust to these changes in weather. We are left trying to determine if it is safe to go outside, then excited to be outside, and then back to snow/ice mix keeping us inside again. This reminds me so much of our ever-changing lives.
Think of the move from college to your first “real” job. Scary stuff. You are now part of the working world, independent and ready to take on the world, yet still trying to figure it all out and not quite sure of yourself.
And then perhaps marriage, kids, death of parents, or even a child. We all encounter major changes in our individual lives and, on top of that, we live in a world that continues to change. Life is never constant but always evolving. As exciting, overwhelming and confusing as life changes can be, we all are in search of a place where we can find hope.
Malachi 3:6 tells us God never changes; “For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.” Our Heavenly Father knew you from the beginning; He created you and He loves you, yesterday, today and forever. He is gracious and merciful and we NEED Him every day. He brings hope to our fallen world.
MOST Ministries has been through many changes over the past 30 years—who knew that this ministry, started in 1989, would still be doing the work of God so many years later? There have been many challenges alongside many celebrations of new lives in Christ. Through the years, our faithful Prayer Ambassadors have prayed us through it all. We continue to be blessed by your outpouring of prayers.
As the new year is just getting started, we can already see changes that are beginning to happen. We seek God for answers to the changes His ministry here at MOST will be going through in the coming years. But we always remember what His word tells us in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We firmly stand in the hope that comes only from our steadfast Father.
Change is often hard, but we grow in our faith and learn to embrace it. When we trust God’s plan, He transforms us each and every day as His followers. I encourage you to think about the changes God brings into your life—the painful ones and the pleasurable ones: how is He working through those to draw you closer to Him? Is there something He seems to be saying to you, something He wants you to act on?
If you’d like to prayerfully embrace change in 2019, and step outside of your comfort zone, MOST Ministries is always developing new relationships, new international hosts, and new projects to serve the mission field, share the Gospel, and bring in the harvest. Perhaps you’d like to make one more change this year and serve alongside us?
Please contact MOST Ministries if you’d like more information: visit www.mostministries.org or email most@mostministries.org
Featured image: team 1812 in Guatemala. Photo courtesy of MOST Ministries.
