Change

I don’t think there is another word in the English language that carries so much weight. The mere mention of this word can create such a response that is so incredible. There are volumes of books written about it. There are some who consider the word change a very intimidating and fearful group of letters. These thoughts of a six letter word in our English language can create emotions in a person that can actually be debilitating, leading to no change at all. As I ponder the next phase in life, my next change, I could allow myself to act cowardly and refuse to move, refuse to be a faithful servant and make the transition God is so graciously pushing me to make. I choose to take the energy created by the fear, the anticipation of the change and use it to further God’s kingdom and serve Him.
In this life, we should not fear change at all. If we truly believe that God is ultimately in control, we also believe that God has placed us in the very situation, the situation of change in order to serve Him in ways we may never know. As faithful servants, we need to make sure we are doing everything in our power to discern God’s great ambition for us, and that we are attempting to succeed in these great ambitions. When I think about what God has in store for me, I try to imagine how magnificent it will be when we, God through me, achieve His goal and move on to the next phase.
As I ponder our temporary existence on this earth, I can’t help but think about how boring it would be without God being in charge. Even though we may think we have a plan, God has the Master’s plan that, if we choose to follow it, will bring us to His glory. That’s why change is not a bad thing. We know nothing about what God has planned for us each and every day. But as true believers, we know that God is a loving God and that whatever it is, He is there with us, even through the change.

Some may face change in different ways, and at different times in their lives, but it is inevitable that we will all face change regardless of all the efforts to keep things the same. Change creeps up on us as we travel through the different phases of our lives. Change is coming for the parents of the school aged children, leaving home to start a new year of learning. Change is coming for the new graduate entering the workforce. Change is coming for the person facing the loss of a job and possibly a way of life. Change is coming for the newlyweds trying to adjust to living together and staying married despite all of society’s pressures. Change is coming for the senior having to move to a new home due to the costly medical care they need.

We all will eventually approach these changes and will respond to them in our own way. I think that if we are truly convinced that it is God who allowed these transitions in our lives, then we focus on all of the positive aspects and refuse to get bogged down in the negative. We are convinced that our God is a loving God, so we also should be convinced that change is not a bad thing, but a God given opportunity to show others how wonderful and magnificent He truly is.

This is my new definition of change now reduced to three simple words, God given opportunity. I could even shorten it further to take away the intimidation and fear. I love acronyms, so this would be Ggo. If we want to do God’s will,”just Ggo.” Not as catchy as “just do it,” but far more effective, don’t you think?