The Calendar Changes but Christ Doesn’t - Encouragement for Today - January 06, 2026
The Calendar Changes but Christ Doesn’t
GRACE VALENTINE
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“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)
Here we go again … another January.
I was back at my dead-end job after the holidays, feeling about 10 pounds heavier (my mom’s mac and cheese was worth it though), stuck and alone in a city where friends seemed to change faster than the seasons. I was still processing the quiet ache of grief. Some people were gone too soon, and others had just walked out of my life without explanation.
The holiday celebrations were over. The sparkle had faded. As I sat at my desk, staring at a computer screen that barely paid my bills, I wasn’t thinking about resolutions or goals. I was thinking about all that had changed in the past year, how behind I felt, and how much I didn’t like it.
Change can be beautiful, but it can also feel brutal. Sometimes January doesn’t feel like a fresh start. It feels like a reminder that time keeps moving whether we’re ready or not.
But here’s what I’ve learned since that quiet, lonely January: While life constantly changes, Christ never does.
When friends walk away, He remains close.
When plans fall apart, He stays sovereign.
When the world feels unfamiliar because of grief or disappointment, He is still God.
Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Even when everything around us shifts, we still have a steady foundation. He doesn’t come and go with the seasons. He doesn’t change His mind when others do. His goodness, His promises, and His presence remain.
So if this new year already feels uncertain, remember: God isn’t pacing the floors of heaven wondering what to do next. He’s fully in control and fully guiding you. It is not your job to understand why things look the way they do, but you can expect God to use your present circumstances to lead you to His goodness. He’s still the same Savior who carried you through last year, and He’ll carry you through this one too.
When we rely on Him through life’s changes, we can experience growth. Change isn’t just about walking away from what was; it’s about what God is bringing our way next.
In my life, I look back now and realize my dead-end job actually ended months later, but that led to something new. The friends who walked away made room for ones who would change my life. There was never a reason to fear the unknown because God was already there, leading me toward His best.
I just wish I could go back and tell my younger self: You don’t need to fear a future God is already in. God is refining you.
Let’s stay close to the One who never changes, even when everything else does. Don’t resent the growth or the change. Expect God to show up in it.
Lord, thank You that while life changes, You never do. Help me trust You with the unknowns ahead and to believe that every change is an invitation to grow closer to You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Grace Valentine is the author of the devotional book, To the Girl Looking for More and What Will They Think: Nine Women in the Bible Who Can Help You Live Your Life Boldly. Both books are perfect for you or a young woman in your life to read, helping you walk more closely with Jesus this year.
ENGAGE
For more encouragement from Grace Valentine, follow her on Instagram @thegracevalentine. And learn more on Grace’s website!
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 27:13-14, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (NIV).
What can we do to remain confident that we will see the goodness of the Lord, even when we feel stuck in disappointment, unexpected change, and hurt?
Psalm 27:14 says “wait for the LORD” twice. How can you wait for the Lord? What makes waiting hard, and what helps you remain patient? Share your thoughts in the comments.
© 2026 by Grace Valentine. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
