I don’t enjoy change...
Jeff Oakes here. I’ve been thinking a good deal lately, as I’m guessing you are too, about Jed’s departure from our church. I don’t enjoy change. I like it even less when it involves saying goodbye to a dear friend, colleague, and leader. I spent some time Monday helping Jed load up some boxes as he and his family prepared to depart for their new ministry in Iowa. It felt surreal. No, that’s not quite right. What it felt like was real. This is really happening.
In the coming days we will all be facing the reality of Jed’s exit. I, for one, have been wrestling with a host of questions. How am I supposed to feel about all this? Is it possible to be happy for Jed while simultaneously being sad? What will this mean for Harbor? What happens next? I don’t have answers for most of these questions right now, but I do have one response that I want to suggest, and it might not be what you expect.
In Psalm 100 we read the following:
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100 is named: A Song of Thanksgiving. It might be difficult to adopt a posture of gratitude and praise during this season of transition for our church, but I want to encourage us to do so all the same.
We have reasons to be thankful:
- Jed and his family have served our church faithfully for ten years. That’s a tenure deserving of praise. He has honored God and led us well. We thank God for blessing us will the Mullenix family and we ask Him to use them in the very same way at their new church.
- God has blessed our church with a great staff and leadership who will continue to serve and direct Harbor in the days ahead. We will continue to pursue the mission of Helping People Find Their Way Back to God.
- Our God is faithful. He will provide for all our needs. We can trust him. He deserves our praise in all seasons, including this one. Please join me in thanking Him. “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation..."
In Christ,
Jeff Oakes