Sorry, but I thought it was funny reading some of the angry comments left on a coin blog (yes, there are blogs for pretty much everything) regarding the redesign of the back of the 2010 Lincoln cent coin. Some folks are outraged - "It's ugly!", "should've left it the way it was," etc.
People don't like change.
I actually collect Lincoln cents. I've got one from 1909 (the first year Lincoln was on the penny), steel pennies from 1943 when World War II demanded copper for shell casings, the switch in 1959 from "Wheat" pennies to ones featuring the Lincoln Memorial on the rear face, and on through the present day.
I can imagine there were similar thoughts with each of these changes, but we survived. We weathered the storm of the different, persevered, and came out the other side relatively unscathed...with new pennies.
Admittedly, in the grand scheme of things, the penny change is insignificant (hopefully for you it's not a big deal!) But why is it, that as Christians, we sometimes get all bent out of shape when change is thrust upon us. A move, loss of a job, illness, standard of living, etc.
GOD, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?!
(Why did they have to change the penny?)
Now, let me back up a bit to clarify something - just because you're a Christian doesn't meant difficult things don't affect you, like you're inside some fluffy, pink, cotton candy-filled bubble of denial, 'cuz...that's just weird. Jesus, our ultimate example, wept at the tomb of his friend Lazarus before raising him from the dead. Take a good look at the apostles... beaten, jailed, stoned, crucified, etc.
Peter writes (1Pet 1:6 NLT) "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while."
In The Message, vs 7 "Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine."
The Message in 1Pet 4:12-13 "Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner."
I've been reading "Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God" by Francis Chan, and he spends a decent amount of time trying to paint a picture of the enormity, the eternal nature of God, a God who spoke not just a few stars into existence, but countless galaxies, populated by billions of stars, with planets orbiting these stars...all because He could! He created caterpillars with 300 muscles in their necks alone...all because He could.
And He loves US!
As Christians, we're not immune from life's changes, trials, and tragedies, but thank you Jesus we have hope! Each difficulty we face is an opportunity for change, for refinement, one step closer to that finish line that Paul talks about in 2Tim 4:7 ("the only race worth running" in The Message...hmm, how many different races do we sometimes find ourselves...sorry, little attention deficit creeping in, topic for another day!)
"You never saw him, yet you love him. You still don't see him, yet you trust him - with laughter and singing. Because you kept on believing, you'll get what you're looking forward to: total salvation." (1Pet 1:8-9 MSG)
How cool is that? Now, go enjoy your new pennies!