Some flowers have a trick up their sleeve (or up their petals):

They’re able to change Colour.

I recently noticed a beautiful flowering Plant heavy with pink blossoms in a neighbour’s garden. When I walked by several days later, I saw that some of the flowers had turned a lighter creamy colour as they matured. I did a double take and had to make sure I was indeed looking at the same plant as before.

Other flowering plants have the same ability to surprise us with shifting colours.

Among them is the aptly named “yesterday-today-and-tomorrow” plant. This tropical shrub has short-lived flowers which change colour as they age. They start out as purple, then shift to lavender and finally fade to white before dropping from the plant.

While flowers that change colour can delight and surprise us, sometimes we need something unchanging and constant in our lives.

Isn’t it good to know that we can count on God to always remain the same?

Malachi 3:6 tells us that, “I am the LORD, and I do not change.”

When everything we see around us has been turned upside down and life as we knew it is unrecognizable, God still remains the fixed rock we can rely on.

“In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment they will be changed;
but You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.” (Hebrews 1:10-12)

In a world where the only constant is change, it’s reassuring to know that our Heavenly Father’s character is unvarying and abiding:

“His everlasting arms are under you.” (Deuteronomy 33:27)

“He delights in unchanging love.” (Micah 7:18)

“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)

“From everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him.” (Psalm 103:17)

God’s love, mercy, beneficence, promises and forgiveness are unchanging: whatever you read about God and Jesus in Scripture is still true today.

The same forgiveness and salvation that Jesus offered people two thousand years ago is available to you right now.

The same blessings and lovingkindness that God showed Biblical figures like Abraham, Joseph and David are open to you as well.

The same miracle-working power that Jesus demonstrated while here on earth can flow to you today through the Holy Spirit.

God hasn’t changed a bit!

The yesterday-today-and-tomorrow flower is delightful, but is ephemeral and soon perishes.

How wonderful to know that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8)

© 2021 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.