Challenged by Change

What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.
Galatians 6:15b NLT
 
I’m afraid I am beginning to sound like a grumpy old lady. Yes, I am getting older, but I don’t want to be negative about the inevitable changes taking place. 

It seems like every appliance we replace does not work as well as the one we are replacing. The technology we just got used to, changes, so we need to learn how to do things all over. This pandemic keeps challenging us as our favorite restaurant closes, and we can’t do things we used to like with the people we liked to do them with. You get the idea! It’s hard to stay positive when you just don’t like the way things are going… in the world, in our families, even in some churches. 

But I refuse to become a negative Nelly! Especially when God reminds me that he created the world to be alive, and that means he created it, and us, to change and grow. Life is messy! Growing can be hard. In fact, the other day I heard myself saying, “If something is going to be worthwhile, it will probably be hard.” Every beautiful rose has thorns. 

The thought came to me that there is probably only one alternative to change, death! We were created to grow and overcome the challenges of change. It keeps us alive and alert. So, if you have been complaining like I sometimes do, let’s remember that what we really need to change - is our attitude! 

Instead of complaining, let’s look for the gifts hidden in the challenges. Let’s be determined to allow God to improve our character in the stretching. Let’s let the Holy Spirit guide us through, light the way and make us more like Jesus. Let’s align with God, his thinking and purposes in the matter. Let him work his patience, kindness, thankfulness and grace into our very fiber, so we can be strong in him and witness to his Kingdom that is being established through the change. Let’s not miss the new life springing up from the wreckage of the old.

Dear friends, be blessed as you shed the old habit of complaining and choose to put on a new attitude of thankfulness and praise. May we choose to light the way into the coming days with proclamations that our God is good and he is in control. What he changes for good, no one can undo! Be blessed to embrace the truth that we were created to grow, and that means change. Amen.

Mary Sumner ~ March 17, 2021