Change. What feelings rise in you when you hear that word? For some it may be a desirable word, but for many it’s a scary one. A word that makes us uncomfortable and that brings a fear of the unknown. This can be anything from a schedule change to a death in our family. From road construction to a child that walks away from Jesus. From dinner gone wrong to a devastating financial loss. I can tell you one thing, in this world you WILL deal with change. Unfortunately, rather than allowing these changes to press us closer to Christ, we often let them lead to:
Hopelessness
Fear
Questioning God’s Goodness
Today I want to come alongside you and say “Sister, I have been there.” I have run my race scared, paralyzed, and generally defeated. I want to encourage you with three truths not from the words of my mouth but from the mouth of God. So, grab your Bible and let’s dig into what He has to say to us today.
TRUTH IS…
He is doing something; your situation is not hopeless.
In Isaiah 43:19, we read:
“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
The Message translation reads:
“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”
Ladies, He is making roads, have you seen road construction zones? Things are dug up, pavements are crushed to be rebuilt, and everyone around the construction zone must SLOW DOWN (God forbid that we slow ourselves for a moment) or maybe even worse, we get rerouted! I mean, I can handle slowing down… but taking me an entirely different direction, that’s just crazy!
Change can be anywhere from annoying to downright destructive, but praise be to God, He is doing something BRAND NEW in all this. Instead of allowing hopelessness to take root, let’s anticipate the new thing that He is doing!
TRUTH IS…
We don’t have to be fearful; we can have peace.
In Philippians 4:6-7, Paul writes:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be make known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
If your feeling anxious amid change, begin to ask yourself:
Have I prayed about this situation by supplication? Supplication is a humbled and earnest beg. If anxiety is creeping in perhaps your prayer life is lacking.
Have I lost my sense of thankfulness? Often, we get so caught up in our current situations of “wilderness” and “desert” that it’s the only thing on our lips. No thankfulness for all He has done, just anger and impatience for what He is NOT doing.
Have I let Him know what I desire? Our Father doesn’t just want to hear what we don’t desire, He wants us to tell Him those things that we deeply and desperately DO desire.
When we do the things asked of us in verse 6, we are then promised peace!
Paul continues in verse 8.
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.”
Worry is a battle of our thoughts, so God graciously guides us in the battle for our minds and gives us a roadmap as to where our thoughts should be directed.
TRUTH IS…
God will never change, so we don’t need to question His goodness.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
We can find great comfort in knowing that Jesus will never change.
Jesus is good – and that will never change.
Jesus is love – and that will never change.
Jesus brings peace – and that will never change.
And above all…
Jesus offers salvation – and that will NEVER CHANGE.
In this world where change is guaranteed, we can be grateful that our wonderful and merciful God will never, ever change! So today, let’s walk in hope, peace, and assurance that our God is doing something in the middle of all this “construction.”
Blessings,
Brittney Dillon