Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

Change is hard. Change is constant. Change happens every minute of every day of every year, towards infinity. Change can hurt, but change can also bring joy. Sometimes at the same time.
It is said that the three major life stressors are ending a marriage, changing jobs and moving to a new location. I know this to be a true thing, I did all three in the space of less than a month. It also put me into the hospital with severe ulcerative colitis. I knew I had to change my life situation, but I didn’t have the tools to do it sanely or intelligently. The alternative to shying away from change would have been a life of sorrow, depression, and not becoming the person God meant for me to be. I was conditioned by my childhood and marriage to be compliant, always heeding others’ wishes, demands and decisions. That was my life until the day when I said “enough.” I faced the triple threat change, and I was scared out of my wits. But I did it anyway and I survived, even thrived.
“The LORD will guide you continually.”
Well, God did guide me, even though I may not have been aware of it at the time. It is only by looking back, without judgment, that I see the Hand of God guiding me through the parched places and made my bones strong. I may have lost many material things, but I have gained so much more spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally. Nietzsche said, “That which does not kill you makes you stronger.” But only God is able to carry you through the tough times with the promise of continual growth.
In Isaiah 58, God calls the prophet to address the problem of false religious observance, particularly fasting and observing the Sabbath. Isaiah chastises people who observe spiritual disciplines for selfish reasons (to gain God’s blessings) while they ignore the hunger, poverty, homelessness, and nakedness of those in need. Only by true devotion to God, people who love God will worship God for the sake of honor rather than manipulation. How many of us have prayed a “conditional” prayer.: “If God does this for me, then I will do such and such, (devotion, tithing, alms, etc.)” The love for God and neighbor will be manifested by taking concrete steps to care for those in need.
So, Isaiah’s word constitutes a challenge to change one’s purpose of prayer, from selfish need to selflessness. If this is done with a pure heart, then God will shower down strength, refreshment in body and spirit, and the joy of the Living God. This also presages Jesus’ command to “feed my lambs,” care for those in need, clothe the naked, feed the hungry and witness to the Word.
Isaiah 58:11 offers a beacon of hope to those who are struggling with change. God will shower those in need with strength to keep on through difficulties and challenges. We at Sampson’s Mills Presbyterian Church are gearing up for such a change. Our Pastor, Jessica McClure-Archer, has been bestowed the honor of being elected General Minister of the Pittsburgh Presbytery. This is a monumental change for us as a congregation and for Pastor Jessica. Her leaving our church to embark on her new life will leave a huge void. However, she leaves us stronger, more faithful, more active, and even more ready to follow our Mission Statement: We embrace our call to love and serve Jesus Christ as we cultivate community and empower our neighbors.
Change is hard, but we are joyful for the love and service given us by Paster Jessica, and for her new calling.
Don’t be afraid of change. God has your back!