Choices In Change
I used to think I liked change, I enjoy taking different routes when driving to learn different ways to get around and see other things along my drive. I like to eat different foods and get tired of making and eating the same meals all of the time. A couple weeks ago, I read something that was talking about resisting change and being upset when a friend moves away, construction affects my drive or electronic devices do an update and then I can’t find anything. The reading suggested that I have the choice to either look at these changes in my life as an opportunity to grow or I can grumble and complain about them. As I read this, I thought to myself how that very day I was complaining about an app I use frequently changing the coupon section. I have been feeling very frustrated about it for weeks, so much so that I left a negative review and regularly check for updates to see if they changed it back. While these may be valid things for me to do, I realized that perhaps I don’t like change as much as I thought and the only real change I am comfortable with are the ones I can control by deciding to make or initiate them myself.
Change is an inevitable part of life and things change every single day whether I like it or not. People grow old, job responsibilities are modified, relationships change, people come and go from groups I am involved in, products are added and discontinued, etc. The list could go on and on, after all even I am changing. Changes are just a part of the ebb and flow of life and while I have little control of most things that are changing in my world, I do always have choices in how I respond. If I allow the Lord to walk with me, I can always choose to accept more and resist less the shifting and changing going on around me. I know the Lord will always be there to walk me through it and I can trust Him. Sometimes I think I look at new things and I don’t like them simply because they inconvenience me, which provides me new opportunities, not just for acceptance, but a significant perspective shift moving to growth.
When things change, I also have to make changes. Sometimes these changes take much of my time, other times I have to do something different or learn something new. I often find myself complaining about things such as why do they have to keep rearranging the grocery store or update an app when it worked perfectly fine before. However, since I have little control over most of the change that happens around me, grumbling about it does nothing for me besides kill my joy and keep me from moving forward. If I ask God to help me see the changes around me as an opportunity for growth, I can learn new things and keep my mind more nimble as I do. Every time something changes, it is a chance for me to be more pliable and flexible to the world around me and grow to be more like Jesus. In fact, I know that change is an important part of my spiritual growth; which as I am willing, God will use to shape, mold, purify and prune me. He can use anything in my life to transform me to look more like Him and the less energy I spend resisting change the more I have to put forth to who the Lord is creating me to be.
While I am changing and the world around me is changing so fast I can barely keep up, the Lord is still the same. Hebrews 13:8 says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. While this verse doesn’t specifically make the change in my life any less or easier, what it does do is give me the confidence to know I can always count on Him and never need to fear change in me or things around me. While I may not like the changes I am experiencing, He will walk with me and never leave me. The changes may not feel good, however, as Romans 8:28 tells us, He uses all things together for good for those who love God. Whether the change I am experiencing is something small like the shampoo I use has been discontinued or something that feels big like losing someone I love, I know that He can use those things for His unending good of which I am a benefactor because I love Him. I can trust that every change is an opportunity for growth.
Practice For Today
I will remember when changes come my way, that I have a choice to accept or resist them and that the more I resist them the harder they are for me to deal with. Where I struggle with this, I will humbly come to God and ask for His help to accept and not fear change and maybe even learn something new. Change precipitates change and it requires courage to do things differently. Whether it’s change in me or around me, I know the Lord will give me the strength to walk through. I will try to catch myself when I start to complain about things changing and thank God that I have the opportunity to grow. I will then choose to put any changes in His hands and trust Him with the outcome.
Deu 31:6 NIV – Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Rom 8:28-29 ESV – And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.