Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”—Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Change is in the air—literally. Here in Virginia the vibrant, colorful leaves have already marked the arrival of autumn. Now as they swirl and fall to the ground like snow, they point to the certainty of the coming winter.

Change is also happening all around me—in the lives of the people I love. Some are planning weddings while others look forward to building or expanding their families. A few will move across the country, even as others hope to make a significant career change. The last few years have brought significant changes in my own life. I retired, moved to this beautiful state, and became a grandmother.

Change, and the ways it intersects our lives, can be as varied as the different colors of the falling autumn leaves. Sometimes we invite change by planning for it. Other times it arrives unexpectedly. Change can be invigorating, or intimidating. It can even be both at the same time. Some of us love change, while others dread it. But change is a constant in all of our lives.

Any change, welcome or not, disrupts our status quo. And until we adjust to our new normal, life feels unsettled and uncertain. During these times we need to hold onto something, or someone, stable. We can take heart from a promise made to the Israelites in the Old Testament.

Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt and throughout the forty years they wandered in the desert. They were finally ready to enter the promised land. But at this moment, Moses suddenly announced he would not be going with them (Deuteronomy 31:1-2). 

Imagine how difficult it would be to hear these words from Moses. The daunting task to enter the promised land already carried its own set of uncertainties. In the process, they would have to face their enemies. And now they would have to do it without the support of their trusted leader. To reassure them, Moses reminded them of God’s faithfulness. In his words we find this beautiful promise:  

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

The Hebrew word translated as leave, raphah, means to sink, or to relax. It can also be translated as fail. The word conveys the idea that God will never relax His grip on us, and He will never fail us. The word forsake is translated from the Hebrew word azab. It can mean to leave or to abandon. God promises to never leave or abandon us, especially in times of uncertainty.

This promise is beautifully captured in an old hymn, Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand, written by Jennie B. Wilson in 1906. Her words remind us that life is full of “swift transition”. But in these times, we can hold onto our ever-present God:

Trust in Him, who will not leave you
Whatsoever the years may bring

The refrain repeats this reassuring promise:

Build your hope on things eternal
Hold to God’s unchanging hand

Some say the only constant in life is change. We could also say the only certainty is uncertainty. But we can also remember that God will never leave us or forsake us—and this promise is one we can hold onto forever.

Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for this beautiful promise. When changes create uncertainty in our lives, may we remember to hold to God’s unchanging hand. May we find in this promise the reassurance and security we crave. We pray this in Your name. Amen.