When I was a new mom, one of the many aspects of motherhood that felt challenging was that it was always changing. As soon as we settled into a routine, a new tooth or a growth spurt or some other new issue would come along and toss everything I thought I’d figured out right into the trash. 

Twenty years later, I still don’t handle change well. My teens are growing up and leaving home, and I feel like I’m grasping these little wisps of family life that vanish so quickly. All these changes can leave me anxious about today and fearful about changes that could come in the future. 

What change are you dealing with today? Maybe changes at your job have thrown your life or your finances into a tailspin. Maybe you’re grieving a changed relationship or loss. Or maybe you’re in a steady season, but you worry about change in the future. 

This month we’re looking at promises of God to cling to when we’re anxious. Today in Psalm 102, we see that through every change, we can take refuge in our unchanging God: 

 “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Psalm 102:25-27) 

These verses teach us that God has always been and He will aways be—from before the foundation of the earth until it passes away. And through all those ages; through all the changes of civilizations and kingdoms and nations; through the past, present, and future . . . He is the same. 

If God remains the same, we know His character and His promises remain the same. All those truths about God that we talk about every Monday—His goodness, His faithfulness, His sovereignty, His mercy—they are the same, now and forever. 

We can trust that the same God who has been faithful to us in the past will be steadfastly faithful through all eternity. He is the one constant we can count on through all the changes of life. 

No matter what you face this week, when everything changes, God stays the same. 

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I’ve had some stressful driving experiences, but nothing comes close to the time I was lost in Brooklyn, New York, during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. I took the exit into Brooklyn and needed to cross several lanes in a short distance to make a left turn and stay on my predetermined route. (This was in ancient times, before GPS and phones with map apps!) 

But it was New York, not Arkansas. Not even the driver with a front license plate identifying him as a clergyman would let me pull in front of him. I didn’t make it to the left turn lane, and I was lost. My surroundings terrified me, and I didn’t know how to find my way to safety. All I had was a paper map, panicked tears, and desperate prayers. 

Sometimes life feels similar to those jam-packed streets of Brooklyn. We’re confused and overwhelmed as we struggle to find our way. This month we’re looking at God’s promises that give us peace when we’re anxious, and in Psalm 46, we see that we have a refuge in times of fear: 

“‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!’ The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:10-11)

When I hear the words “be still,” I’m reminded of the relief that washed over me as I finally parked in front of my friend’s Brooklyn apartment. Her knowledge of the city protected me from panic and fear as I blissfully followed her around the city for the weekend. 

When life feels chaotic and confusing, we can be still. We know the One who knows all things. He is God—we are not. He is with us, and He is our fortress. He will be exalted as the One who rules and reigns over all things. 

Peace comes when we feel safe and protected. With God as our ever-present fortress, we can stop panicking and be still. He is exalted above any enemy that threatens us. We can rest in His presence, protection, and peace. 

No matter what you face this week, you can be still because God is with you. 

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The house is still quiet in the mornings as I open my Bible and place my coffee mug on the teal coaster that a friend gave me a few years ago. It says, “It’s as if no one in my family appreciates that I stayed up all night overthinking for them.” It’s funny because it’s true. As the mom of three teens, I often lay awake at night doing all the overthinking. 

This month we’re looking at promises in Scripture to help us when we’re anxious. As we look at Psalm 63, we see that David had a better approach to his bedtime routine.

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” (Psalm 63:5-7)

Isn’t it fascinating that David specifically mentioned thinking about God in the watches of the night? He didn’t just praise God during the day – he turned his thoughts to the Lord as he laid down to sleep.

I think God understands that when we’re alone in the dark with our thoughts, we will be tempted to stew over the past or worry about the future. Through David’s words, God shows us another way. Instead of focusing on our troubles and fears, we can meditate on what God has done and remember that we can trust Him.

These verses also tell us that David had a satisfied soul and joy-filled lips. These two things are connected—when we find our satisfaction in the Lord, it leads us to praise. We look at our gracious God, see how He’s been our help in the past, and know that He will be our help in the future. 

David was satisfied, joyful, and peaceful because he knew the Lord was his refuge and his help. Rather than running out on his own to fix all the things, David sang for joy in the shadow of God’s wings. The Lord is our refuge and help, too, and as we meditate on His promises, we can rest peacefully and joyfully in Him. 

No matter what you face this week, we can rest peacefully because of God’s promises.

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When my son was little, he was trying to carry around three of his toys, but it was more than his little arms could handle. As he repeatedly dropped a toy, picked it up, and dropped another one, I finally said, “Christopher, you’re carrying too many things.” He looked up at me and replied, “No, I’m carrying three many things!”

Some days, my worries feel this way—there’s just too many (or three many!) to carry all at once. Maybe you feel that way, too. This month, we’ll be looking at promises from God’s Word that we can cling to when we feel anxious, and I hope it will encourage you.

One of the first Bible verses I memorized as a child was 1 Peter 5:7, and it’s still one of my favorites: “ . . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” But I Peter 5:7 is a sentence fragment. It’s grammatically and thematically connected to the previous verse:

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all of your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (I Peter 5:6-7).

It requires humility to stop trying to manage and control our own circumstances and acknowledge that we are not God. As we’re humbling ourselves, we’re casting all our anxieties on Him. We hurl our worries from our weak hands into His mighty hand, because we are not God, but we know the great I AM.

Throw your financial uncertainties on Him. He is your provider.

Throw your family worries on Him. He loves your loved ones even more than you do.

Throw your failures on Him. He has saved you by His grace and mercy.

Throw your fears for the future on Him. His purposes cannot be thwarted, and He will be faithful to you.

As you let go of your worries and cast them on the Lord, you can have confidence that He will receive them. As verse 7 promises, He cares for you. Your worries do not fall on deaf ears or a hard heart. Your cares are cared for by your Heavenly Father who sent His Son to redeem you.

No matter what you face this week, cast your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

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