Does everything seem to be changing?

The Cooks have faced and are facing many changes of late.  This weekend I had the honor of officiating my niece’s wedding; she is the first of that generation to experience that.  However, my son is also about to be married while also graduating from college and beginning dental school.  And our baby girl is about to be a senior in high school.  And I began a wonderful, new job/ministry.  And we got a new home and a new puppy.  And we’re experiencing numerous other new ventures.

Change can be good and exciting, or it can be difficult and unwanted.  Either way, change is inevitable.  We constantly face it whether we want to or not.  In fact, Solomon wisely stated in Ecclesiastes 3:1: “There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.”

Usually, we only think of something as “change” when we feel like something has been lost.  We forget that God is at work at all times which is why we must trust Him.  Jesus even promised that He would never leave nor forsake His followers.

Change happens, so either we face it with hope or dread.  Change can lead to confusion, stress, fear, or upheaval.  Or change can be faced with hope when we see the big picture of life.  My prayer is that you look at the big picture.

I love how Paul put it in Romans 8:28: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.”  And what God said to Jeremiah is still true today: “‘For I know the plans I have for you’ – this is the LORD’s declaration – ‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Consider three steps to face change in a healthy way.

First, accept reality.  Life brings change, and that fact will not change.  Therefore, our only option is how we choose to deal with it.  We must accept reality and move forward.

Second, recognize the past is the past.  We cannot go back to what was.  We can be grateful for what was and learn from what was, but we cannot relive what was.  It is now the past.

Third, look forward to what can be.  Know that God loves you, and if you choose to be His child, He will help you face whatever changes you encounter.  So, trust Him.  Follow Him.  Live for Him.  And face life’s changes with Him.

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