Yesterday, Today, and Forever

"Everlasting God, the years go by but You're unchanging.
In this fragile world, You are the only firm foundation.
Always loving, always true. Always merciful and good, so good.
You are faithful, and we will trust in You!"

This morning I sat in a church service with a heart that ached so strongly to be back home with my church family in Toronto. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be serving and learning here, but I miss the body of Christ at my church so deeply. I've been reading through a lot of Paul's epistles lately in the New Testament, and more than ever before in my life, I taste and feel some of that longing, joy, and ache that he always seemed to have for the body of Christ.
As I was walking home from lunch today with a heart that is screaming for familiarity of place and people, a tender voice reminded my heart that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. My heart is aching so badly to be sitting under my pastor's preaching this morning and just feel at home and "safe" and savour the blessing of community there, and be playing the djembe with the worship team, and not have to be "the new girl". But He definitely called me to serve over here this year. And if He reminds me throughout scripture that He is faithful and unchanging, then I can rest in the knowledge that He is my Familiar One today, even in a place and land and people that so often feel so unfamiliar. I am so thankful that He found me, while I was sitting among pig food and also out in the field (Luke 15), and that I can experience the embrace and celebration of belonging to my Heavenly Father in whatever land I am living in, because my inheritance is in Him. That is good news for a homesick girl.