A season of change is upon us.

The leaves will fall and snow and ice will appear. In school, we will delight in winter break and a time for family get-togethers. The political atmosphere is ramping up with debates, opinions, and endless analysis.

As a mom, change seems to catch me off guard. Two daughters have moved out and begun establishing their own homes and futures. The other kids are growing in height and busyness as activities are in full swing.

In life, change can be either joyful or difficult. It can be a reflection of hardships, failing relationships, and loss, or it can be the joy of celebrating a new child, a move, or new job. In either case, change is often marked by stress and lots of work.

As a gal who loves to be organized and have each day planned, with her planner ready for the moment to cross off a to-do, change and I do not get along very well. I am type A, I admit.

Ironically, looking back over the past decades of my life, very few things that I planned came to pass. In fact, the things that scared me most seem to be the things that happened. So what is a girl to do?

I recently read this quote on Pinterest (and like a modern techy, instantly reposted on Instagram):

My entire life can be described in one sentence: It didn’t go as planned, and that’s ok.

How do I reconcile contentment with what the Lord is doing in my life and the inevitable changes that I will never be prepared for? There is no simple formula, planner, or convenient pill to swallow. However, years ago, the Lord brought me to a verse in James that gave me a promise to rest in, regardless of where my life was at the moment.

Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James: 1:17 

I do not rest in being okay with change, but I find peace in knowing that the Father of lights (just think about that!) has no variation or even a hint of a shadow of changing. He is the rock to which I hold, He is the stillness in the storm and He is the peace that passes all understanding.

To God be the glory, great things He has done.