There is no doubt, change can be hard. It is an everpresent force in our lives; things are always changing. How do we remain peaceful when we are faced with changes in life? This question is often a massive struggle of the secular world, and often can be a struggle of many Christians. I wanted to offer a few thoughts, since I am going through a time of great change.
If you have life experience beyond most, you probably have a lengthy and robust context for the challenges of change. You may have gradutated college, moved, had a medical emergency, gotten laid off, or had marriage trouble. If you are in your advanced years, you may have had to watch your own kids go through those same things, all the while you are thinking back on when those things happened to you when you were their age. All this to say, change affects us all; you are not alone in the battle with change.
If you are on the younger side of life, you may have experienced starting school, making new friends, losing friends, moving, the big jumps from elementary, middle, to high school. You may have gotten a drivers license, had a first job interview, or been rejected from a few colleges. To you, young person; you are not alone in the battle with change.
Did you know that if you are in Christ, you are constantly being changed? Sanctification is the process of the Holy Spirit guiding and convicting you, and God forming you to become more and more like Christ. Read these words:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12: 1-2).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
"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).
God is preparing us for future change, and with our eyes set on him, we will make it through.
As I mentioned earlier, I have been in a season of great change. I am engaged to be married, graduating with a masters degree, starting a new job, and moving across the country. Along with the stress of this, I have encountered a strange sense of peace. The kind of peace that one can only attribute to the Lord. God has been with me in the change, and comforting me as I seek to glorify him with my life. This is my advice to you:
In the midst of your change, seek the one who doesn't change. We can trust that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
Don't walk blindly, let the Word of the Lord guide you.
Pray from your heart persistently and boldly.
Listen and watch attentively for the Lord.
Don't do it alone; surround yourself with believers who care for you.
Reflect on what God has brought you through, and look forward to where he will lead you.
How do you handle big changes?
No problem!
I'm alright with big changes....most of the time
I can struggle with big changes
I resist any change at all, especially big changes!
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