Embracing Change!

             Change!  The older we get, that word is one that we like almost as much as submission.  We get set in our ways and often do not welcome anything that upsets our routine.  Lately, three of the most important areas of my life have been ripe with change.  My oldest great-nephew graduated and is preparing for college so that changes our family dynamics.  My church is undergoing some renovations so many groups, including mine, are being relocated to accommodate the construction.  Then, to top it all off, one of my neighbors put their house on the market.  Change seems to be everywhere!

            We may wish to avoid change but the truth is that change is a part of life.  Each year there will be new people, new adventures, and new obstacles.  The question is how we will deal with each one.  Will we whine and complain, or will we face the change head-on with eyes wide open ready to see what’s around the next bend?

            Abram faced one of the biggest changes ever when God told him to, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12: 1 NIV84). How did he respond? “So Abram left, as the Lord had told him…” (Genesis 12: 4a NIV84).  Abram was 75 years old when he pulled up stakes and left, not knowing where he was going, but he was dependent on God’s leading, and he left willingly.  God promised him great blessings because of his faithfulness.

            While on his second missionary journey, Paul had his trip itinerary planned until one night he had a vision of a man from Macedonia begging him to come there and help those people.  Macedonia wasn’t on Paul’s schedule, but his response to what he knew was the leading of the Holy Spirit was swift and final.  “After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia…” (Acts 16: 10a NIV84).  His plans changed drastically, and he didn’t hesitate to change with them.

            When the Israelites whined and begged for a king, God granted their wish and instructed the prophet Samuel to anoint Saul as king, which he did privately.  Later there was a formal selection process so that the people would know that Saul was the one God had chosen.  When the selection process was complete, Saul was nowhere to be found.  As the people looked for him, it was God who told them, “he has hidden himself among the baggage” (I Samuel 10: 22b NIV84).  Saul was not ready for change, and he later proved that he wasn’t ready to follow the Lord’s instructions. 

            Change is inevitable and it is never easy but our response to change may very well determine whether the change is good or bad.  With the faith of Abram and the determination of Paul, we can face anything with the Lord’s help.  The question is, will we embrace it as Abram and Paul did, or will we try to run away like Saul?  What kind of change are you facing today?

Genesis 12: 1 – 5

Acts 16: 6 - 10

I Samuel 10: 1, 17 - 24

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 11, 2025 at 5:27 AM

    I really appreciated your thoughts on how difficult change can be—it’s something I think we all experience. At the same time, I believe that change, while uncomfortable, is also essential for spiritual growth and maturity.

    If we resist change, we risk staying in places that feel familiar but may not be where God wants us to remain. Change often brings with it the opportunity to learn something new, to see circumstances from a fresh perspective, and to lean more fully into God’s purposes for our lives.

    Growth rarely happens without discomfort. But it’s often in the stretching, the uncertainty, and even the struggle that God shapes us most. If we’re willing to view change not just as loss or disruption, but as an invitation from God, we can begin to see it as a pathway to our full potential in Him.

    God doesn’t change—but He constantly calls us to be transformed, renewed, and refined. Without change, we can’t become who He created us to be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sun Porch LadyJune 11, 2025 at 10:45 AM

    Well said! I agree completely.

    ReplyDelete

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