Change is hard. We know what we know. We like what we like. What makes us comfortable makes us comfortable.
At the same time, we don’t know what we don’t know. The change we fear might be the change we need. The change we don’t want might be the change we celebrate. Have an open mind and an open heart. The thing you think might be the worst thing to happen to you could be the best thing.
Life is filled with change. I was ordained and married in June of 2000. It was the last wedding our photographer did with a film camera. And my ordination was the first time I had my picture taken with a digital camera. It’s hard to imagine life before digital cameras. But digital photography and videography have opened up so many possibilities. This was good change. You are not going to find many people who want to go back to the days of film. I could not have imagined going through the Covid pandemic without the benefit of digital camera technology.
While there are many good things about change, the hard part with change is loss. Change inevitably brings loss into our lives. It is the loss of a loved one. It is the loss of ability as we age. It is the loss of a job. And while there are many times that what is gained is greater than what is lost, there are many times the loss is greater than the gain. And that is hard.
There are two ways we try to deal with it. We either fight it or deny it.
- Fight it! Some of us do all we can to resist change. But there are some changes that are inevitable. Fighting the change will only wear us down.
- Deny it! Some of us will ignore it and pretend it is not real. We just keep on doing what we are doing. But this leads to resentment and anger that grows inside.
There is a third alternative and that is to accept change in faith. Realize that nothing stays the same. Place your faith in Jesus knowing that he will be with you through all the changes. Give him thanks for the changes that are good. Ask him for help through the changes that are difficult.
Know that while everything else changes, Jesus is the solid rock that does not move. He is Jesus who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
Michael says
“Before I was afflicted, I went astray…”. Many see trouble as punishment. It is not so with God. Adversity includes His
blessing. He gives and takes away for His good purpose.
Janet Elizabeth McKnight says
Amen, Michael!