Except for some tweets and posts on the Akron Alliance Fellowship Church blog, I’ve been quiet on my own blog pages for a little while. It’s been a busy summer—busier than I can remember for the summer months—and my wife and I were overdue for a break for a couple of weekends in September. With the break, there was time to reflect on the blessings that my wife, my family and I have, and how God has been more than evident in His presence in our lives.
It has become more evident that change is, more than ever, a prominent part of life. There has been unexpected change at my workplace (new boss), my wife’s workplace (yep, new boss), and at church (an elder resignation). Even with all of this, there is still cause for praise and worship for how God has given us the grace and ability to manage all of the changes and the surprising events. When my wife and I have talked about this, we readily agree that we don’t care much for change, let alone sudden ones. While we’re both thankful to be working and making a living, the changes are still unsettling and can be downright stressful! It’s often necessary for us to bring our work home and use “downtime” to still be productive and keep pace with everything that comes our way.
With everything moving so quickly, I have discovered that we need to remain continually focused on God and His Word every day, and remain open to the words and direction of the Holy Spirit everywhere we go, whether it is at work or in the car or at the grocery store. In fact, there is not a moment when we should feel comfortable without the input of the Holy Spirit, especially when things seem to be going well (Psalm 51:11).
When circumstances have taken place that you don’t always understand right away, it is always best to trust God for direction when you are unsure of your response (Psalm 3:5-6, 56:3-4). He is our comfort in the midst of uncertainty.
Melvin Gaines 