What If Nothing Changes But You Do - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - February 25, 2026

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"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18, NIV).

This past week, I planned to visit my good friend, Tanner Olson, at the Scatter the Joy Project in Columbus, Ohio. When my husband came down with a bad cold, however, I started to panic. Not only do I have generalized anxiety, but I have horrible night driving anxiety, especially in a busy place like Columbus. From highways to traffic and wrecks, just seeing the six-lane highways stresses me out. Can you relate?

By the halfway point of the week, I was determined to find a solution. I knew I'd be too frightened to drive alone, but if I could find a friend who was okay with driving in the dark, I'd be set. So, that's what I set out to find: a friend who could drive us. What did I find instead? A new friend with night driving anxiety, just like me. God has a sense of humor, so let me explain. 

Earlier in the week, a girl from my church reached out about hanging out. We had mutual friends, and we shared our lives over hot tea and coffee on Monday afternoon. By Friday, we were best friends, driving to Columbus, choosing to face our fears and let God handle the rest. Again, God is funny, right? 

Making the drive to Columbus wasn't easy. We were both still anxious. But by the time we reached the event, my friend shared that when she was praying about whether to come with me, she felt the Lord say, "Change your perspective." Immediately, I felt a gut-punch. This friend wasn't just a new friend to me, but she was a new Christian, and here she was teaching me! 

Sometimes, our circumstances change from good to bad overnight. The problems disappear, and we move on. But more often than not, God changes us in those circumstances. My friend and I still had to drive in the dark to this event. Yes, we drove the back way, and yes, we both still have anxiety. Yet together, and by changing our perspective, the Lord helped us get there safely and back again. 

I don't know what battles or anxieties you're facing today, but I do know that sometimes, we all need a change in perspective. And I get it. When nothing changes, our heavy circumstances can frustrate us. We're disappointed, feel stuck, and even controlled by our greatest fears. But 2 Corinthians 4 reminds us that God doesn't ask us to ignore pain, rather to see it differently. 

This week, please refresh your perspective. Not by pretending everything is good when it isn't, but by expanding your meaning beyond the pain. Notice God's nearness, not just the problem. Sense the shift and embrace it. Allow hope to breathe again. Then, ask God what He might be doing that you can't yet see. 

Is it conquering a fear? Having a difficult conversation? Confessing a struggle? Whatever it is, try to reframe the situation. Name the truth and the battle, because two things can be true at once. Sometimes, we need a little help to change our perspective. 

As C.S. Lewis, the great British writer and author of the Chronicles of Narnia, often quoted: "Isn't it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back everything is different?" And isn't that the truth? Will you allow God to change your heart over time, or stay stuck in the same patterns? Will you see with a new vision, or remain stuck in your circumstances because you refuse to see through them? Life is often about getting through what we're going through, not avoiding or getting around it. 

Prayer

Dear God, where have I been stuck in a way of seeing things? What would it look like to invite you into my circumstances, not just the outcomes? As I honestly answer these questions, help me to see with your vision. Give me a new perspective, and the courage to embrace it. I ask for your hope and love to surround me today as I learn not to lose heart. I love you, Jesus. Amen.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ Justin Paget

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

Related Resource: I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life | Midweek Prayer (John 14:1–6)

When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again.

This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before God.

Jesus reminds us that we are not alone—that He is with us, that He is preparing a place for us, and that He will return for us. As we pray, we ask for help to trust Him more deeply and to follow Him in the way He has already made clear: to love God fully and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

Take a few quiet minutes to slow down, listen for God’s invitation, and rest in the presence of the One who leads us in truth and life. If you like what you hear, follow So Much More on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!