Day 6 — The God Who Never Changes

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.”

— James 1:17 (BSB)

Try this experiment on a sunny day. In the morning, stand outside and look at your shadow. It’s long and stretched out. At lunchtime, look again. It’s short and stubby, right under your feet. In the evening, it’s long again, but pointing the other way. Your shadow keeps changing, because the sun keeps moving across the sky.

James calls God “the Father of the heavenly lights.” He’s the one who made the sun, the moon and the stars. But unlike the lights He made, God has “no change or shifting shadow.” He doesn’t move around. He doesn’t have good moods and bad moods. He is exactly the same yesterday, today and forever.

Think about how much changes in your life. You grow taller every year. You move to a new grade. Friends move away. Maybe your family moves to a new house or a new city. Your favorite show gets canceled. Even your best friend can have a grumpy day.

But God doesn’t change. The God who parted the Red Sea for Moses is the same God who is with you today. The God who loved you yesterday will love you tomorrow. His promises in the Bible are just as true now as when they were written.

James also tells us something about what God is like: every good and perfect gift comes from Him. Your family, your friends, a sunny afternoon, a good meal, a funny joke, a cozy bed: all of them are gifts from a good Father. And because He never changes, He never stops being good.

When everything around you is shifting like a shadow, you can hold on to the God who stays the same.

Think about it: What is something that has changed in your life recently? How does it help to know that God never changes?

Try this: Keep a list today of every good gift you notice, big or small. Before bed, thank God for each one.

Dear Father, thank You that You never change. When things around me are different and new, help me remember that You are always the same. Thank You for every good gift You give me. Help me see Your goodness today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.