Times of change have come to our little piece of Kentucky. They bring forth a change so dramatic it shakes the ground. For those of us who are firmly rooted in God’s word and understand His ways, we may feel the shake but are unmoved. If anything, we are excited for those who are experiencing the change in their personal lives and are curious to see what God has in store for us. We embrace the mystery of His great plan.
However, for those who are unsteady, who are going through a season, who spent a week or month being attacked spiritually, or who are new to the faith, this shaking has them stumbling. I pray none of them, though, have completely fallen down. A stumble is easy to recover from, but a fall can sometimes have someone at the bottom of a dark pit. If you are reading this and believe in the power of pray, please pray for my siblings in the faith. I thank you for it in advance; every prayer is appreciated.
So many view change as a negative, but — while it can be spontaneously frustrating at times — change can be a good thing. It helps us grow and it keeps us from becoming complacent. If we refuse to change, we grow content inside our comfort zones, our own personal bubbles, and we begin to become sluggish when it comes to sharing the Gospel or loving our neighbors.
“Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.”
Proverbs 20:4
When change seems scary, we look for shelter or comfort. If we have been diligent in studying the word of God we will find what we seek, for we learn to lean on His understanding instead of our own. However, if we of the faith slack off and not allow our roots to grow deeper into the foundation that is Christ Jesus’s name we will easily be caught off guard, blown off our feet by the storm and drenched in minutes. We must be careful, too, if we are they who find that shelter, for if we allow ourselves to grow lax whilst resting there we will be no less protected as those who never found it.
“Through laziness, the rafters sag; because of idle hands, the house leaks.”
Ecclesiastes 10:18
Let us never forget, Jesus can calm storms. To focus on Him — to trust in Him and His capabilities (which are boundless) — is to find that shelter. No matter what may come our way or what we may face in this life, Jesus knows what is to happen. He knows what we will need to proceed forward. He knows what we need to hear to continue forward. He knows when to lend us His strength to lift up our shield of faith. He knows when to give us peace so that we may learn what we must when we must to be better disciples of Him.
God has a plan for every aspect of our lives. Even when the devil throughs a wrench into our lives and tries to beat us with it, God can use that experience to help us grow and to help someone else see His love. To use our bad experiences for present/future good helps us to be at ease and let go of any negative feelings we held for that moment. It lets us know that experience, though horrible, wasn’t a waste of time. We can heal from it while we share it with someone who needs to hear it. A branch may fall off a tree during a storm, and the tree may hurt for it, but the nutrients within that branch will help the plants around where it fell to grow.
Dear friends, do not shun change. See it as a new experience to behold in the adventure you’re having with Jesus. We accept the seasons of nature every year (with a complaint here or there), so why can’t we accept the seasons of our spiritual lives? Ask God what He wants you to see when change comes upon you. What does He want to teach you? What can you do to help those around you with their seasons of change? Grow, brothers and sisters, and thrive.
“When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice.”
Proverbs 29:2a
Not the Norm 