Change is scary. Change is good. Change is an inevitable part of life. You don't always see change coming, but sometimes you do. How do you respond to change? Do you have a heart set on grumbling or growth? Are looking for ways to reevaluate or run away? Here are some helpful hints for dealing with what can be a difficult or delightful time of life.
1. Trust Jesus
How is your relationship with Christ?
If you don't have one consider how your life could be different if you confessed your sin to Him, asked for forgiveness and followed Him.
Proverbs 3:5-6 states,
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths," (ESV).
Notice that the passage is calling us to trust with ALL our hearts. We can't see the bigger picture, good thing God can. Throughout change rely on Him with the knowledge that ultimately His plan is for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28). Keep living for Him and remain faithful and He will direct you in the way He wants you to go.
2. Remain Faithful
It's okay to not like change. It's okay to not feel okay with it. It's not okay to stop trusting in God. Faithlessness is a sin. Consider all the times in your life that God has let you down. The truth is there aren't any. If you are struggling with faith, memorize scripture that will help combat the lies. Look up passages that specifically deal with God's faithfulness and preach them to yourself when in doubt. Write down any scripture you want to memorize on note cards and place them in your bedroom, bathroom (yep, I really suggested that), car, binder, desk, purse, wallet etc.
3. Consider Growth Opportunities
You don't have to understand the change immediately and maybe you never will understand it. Take your time to sort through your thoughts and emotions and prayerfully consider how God is using this time to make you into the person He is calling you to be. Look at the beautiful and true promises of Jeremiah 29:11-14:
"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile," (ESV).
If you are struggling with understanding how the Holy Spirit is guiding you, I would encourage you to question whether or not you are doing everything you can to seek him with ALL your heart.
3. Check Your Attitude
I don't mean to sound like your parents did during your teen years, but attitude IS everything.
"Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father," Philippians 2:5-11 (NASB).
5. Rejoice
Change is constant. Life happens in a series of seasons and the good news is that seasons don't last forever. And any trials that we experience on earth due to change or other circumstance pale in comparison to our eternity with Jesus Christ. Romans 8:18 tells us, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us," (ESV).
How do you see Christ conforming you to His image and likeness?
Love,
Lolo
