Do You Fear Change?

Do You Fear Change? (Writer's Opinion)

By Carol Round, Special to ASSIST News Service  

GROVE, OK (ANS – June 19, 2016) -- “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” -- Hebrews 13:8 (ESV).

Does anyone really like change? Maybe a baby with a dirty diaper does. Change, even necessary change, can be beneficial, depending on our attitudes. If we see change as a catalyst for spiritual growth, then change is definitely good. If we see change as a setback, as an opportunity to complain instead of finding the positive in the situation, then we’ve failed to find God’s purpose in it.

I confess that I have a love/hate relationship with change. While I seek to find the good, I find myself complaining sometimes. Have you ever felt that way?

We can become bored with the status quo and seek a change. But if too many changes occur at once—whether by choice or circumstances beyond our control—we can become overwhelmed if we don’t seek God’s guidance and comfort.

Author John Callahan wrote, “Many have said that the only easy way to deal with change is when you are doing the change yourself. But, the truth is that we are not in control of the change so we find it hard to adjust. The Bible tells us that change is real and necessary.

“For salvation we must change our own minds and agree that God’s way is better than our own. It is important for us as Christians to realize that God would not bring us into a situation we should not be in. He does things so we build character and become a stronger person.”

Over the past 15 years, changes in my life have led to meeting new people, helped me to develop a stronger faith in God and belief in myself. Change has also given me opportunities I never dreamed I would have. When God led me to Claremore in 2005, I never imagined that almost 11 years later I would still be writing this weekly column and that doors would open for it to go international.

Writing my weekly column has led to speaking engagements across the country. For someone who made a “C” in college speech—the only “C” I might add—speaking before my peers has actually been a blessing for me. Along the way, I’ve met other women of faith who are now friends and prayer partners.

Embracing change has led me out of the country on mission trips where my eyes have been opened to other cultures and changed my attitude about the natives of these foreign lands. Without accepting the changes God has made in my life, I would never have gone on a 10-day pilgrimage to Israel and walked where Jesus did.

We can navigate life’s changes when we realize we’re not alone. While change is constant, we don’t have to face it by ourselves.

British pastor Charles Spurgeon once said, “It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows.”

Change is inevitable. We would be wise to embrace the words of Hebrews 13:8.

Photo captions: 1) Fearing change. 2) Carol Round.

Note from Carol: I always love hearing from my readers. Please feel free to email me with your thoughts at carol@carolaround.com . You can also visit my blog at www.carolaround.com.

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