How to deal with Change

Change is the one thing we can be sure of in life. Our relationships, responsibilities, homes and work places will all change. Mostly this is a steady process. We get older, our children grow up and move away.

Coming home from a period of separation is a good change though not always for everyone.

Life changes are good if they lead to job security, a good posting or promotion. But all of these bring their own challenges and some may turn out to be blessing we expect. The path God takes us often leads away from what we believe is best for us, causing us to think that we have taken a wrong turning in life.

That is because most of us were taught to believe that God’s goodness will always translate to a life free of trouble if we are on the right track. But that is false teaching, far removed from the Biblical perspective. God’s love often leads us down bumpy roads into times of difficulty.

Three thousand year ago, David the great warrior king of Israel wrote:

If you do what the Lord wants,
    he will make certain
    each step you take is sure.

As long as I can remember,
good people have never
    been left helpless,
    and their children have never
    gone begging for food.

Psalm 37:23, 25 (CEV)

Case 1: At a ‘D’ Day remembrance gathering a veteran jokes with a young soldier, their lives separated by sixty years. How many life changes did the old sailor have and were they all plain sailing? Did he always want to come home or was there nothing for him there? Did he want to remain in the service that had become his home, or was he glad to get away from life at sea and be ‘de-mobbed’ into an uncertain future in a chaotic job market?

Will it be safe jumping for the paratrooper? or, will his life at some stage go into free-fall?

At the end of a difficult period we may not always understand how everything that has been allowed had been for our ultimate good, but by faith in Jesus Christ we can know the unchanging God, who says of himself:

Descendants of Jacob, I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I never change. That’s why you haven’t been wiped out…..Malachi 3:6 (CEV)

The New Testament reaffirms this:

Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.   Hebrews 13:8 (CEV)

Jesus is a firm foundation, who can give us confidence and security in a changing world.

Joining the Armed Forces was probably the greatest cause for change in your life to date. No doubt most accepted the challenge of training with adventure. Leaving home for the first time was tough for some,and life as a new recruit was hard, but discipline built our character. The service met our basic needs, gave us security and we had the support of new friends. It is like this with God, who is our friend and meets our needs.

Matthew 6: 31-33 (NIV) So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt

God also disciplines us for our own good………..to be continued