June is a popular month for weddings, so I found myself watching a television program where cameras recorded several brides selecting their wedding gowns.

My, my, times have changed since my wedding. Back in the day, we didn’t have wedding coordinators, ceremonies were usually held in churches and receptions often took place in church fellowship halls. I thought I was operating out of the box by having our ceremony outdoors and the reception in a hotel. Even though this was a bit atypical, the wedding remained simple and small. 

Today’s weddings are often monumental affairs that frequently require the services of specialists. Ceremony venues now include country clubs, banquet halls, tropical resorts, etc., and receptions are often spectacular events, leaving guests feeling as though they have been on a magnificent vacation. 

One of the biggest differences I see between weddings of yesteryear and those of today are the wedding gowns. I paid less than $200 for my gown, but the gowns I saw on television were approaching $15,000 each. 

Don’t get me wrong. Had I been able to afford an exotic wedding and reception, and if the money had been there for a designer wedding gown, I would have loved it. I’m just pointing out the differences between what was and what is. In short, times change.

Change can be extremely difficult to cope with. One dictionary defines “change” as “Something different from what is or from what it would be if left alone.” Many of us have experienced change and felt like shouting to our new circumstances, “Leave me alone!”

For example, your children grow up and go off to college, leaving you with an empty house and feeling that you now lack purpose. You may be laid off from work, and the change in circumstances causes you to feel fearful and anxious. If your spouse asks for a divorce, the change may have you convinced you’ll never be happy again. If your home is lost to foreclosure, the change can create upheaval and a sense of panic. 

Change is all around us. Even our American way of life seems to be changing. Sept. 11, 2001, ushered in an era we never anticipated: the Patriot Act, air marshals, etc. Millions of people are sensing a threat to their retirement due to the possibility of Social Security going bankrupt. Identity theft is creating havoc in the lives of tens of thousands of people. Hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis are not only increasing in frequency, but also in intensity. Gas prices are all over the map. Yes, change is everywhere and most of it is beyond our control. 

Is there an answer to the changes that are swirling around us?

Psalm 46:1-3 says, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.”

Change can be a blessing in disguise. Like a woman in labor, change can be a birthing process. It can birth anxiety, fear and depression, or it can birth greater opportunities, greater fulfillment and a greater quality of life. Only by trusting in the One who never changes can we remain calm and confident in the transition from what was, to what is, to what is yet to come.

“Jesus is the same yesterday, and today and forever.”