Adjusting to the World

O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you. (Psalm 89:8)

I'm sitting at my desk and there are two birds singing to each other outside the window behind me. If I close my eyes, I can put myself in any of lots of places - the sound carries me to places and times in my past when the same melody was spring's herald.

I am 10. The sound outside my window as I wake up tells me that it's going to be a great weekend spent outside. Joy overtakes me.

I am 17. I know springtime comes with the song I hear, and soon also will come graduation. A bittersweet feeling washes over me.

I am 18. I hear the birds singing outside my dorm room, and I succumb to loneliness as I remember hearing that sound before - in a time and a place where I was surrounded by people who loved me.

I am 21. Though it is nearly drowned out by the noise of passing cars and incessant horns, I hear the same song. It sounds different as it is sung over voices that speak only Spanish, but the flood of emotions is the same.

I am 26, and the sounds carry over the monotonous sounds of my responsible life to remind me that spring - change - is on its way.

Isn't God good? I can't help but think this afternoon of how faithful He is to bring me subtle reminders that while things around me never stay the same, He never changes. Some things will never, ever change. He is so good to show me that in the midst of everything that I'm thinking of and worried about and planning for, He is Lord, and He is in control. He is always there - as faithful as the changing seasons - even when that truth contradicts my emotions.

I'm so thankful that He cares enough to remind me of that. I'm so grateful that He knows what I need even when I just want to feel sorry for myself. I'm so glad that He takes time for me even when I am running from the conviction that awaits me if I turn to Him. I'm so glad He is better than me, and that He is faithfully calling me to more than I'm willing to settle for.