Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Change..........Why Is It So Difficult?

Change is hard—so hard, in fact, that most of us avoid it at all costs.

But by avoiding change, we create even bigger problems, such as lost opportunities, broken relationships, or sometimes a wasted life. Millions of people who need to change are drifting along with no real purpose, no joy, feeling as if they're traveling a dead end street.

I can relate. I've had to make some major changes in my life, and each time they were either very painful or turned out to bring me great blessings of joy.

Intimidated by the Unknown.................

Each time I needed to make a change, I was afraid because I didn't know what was coming. Like most people, I like predictability. I thrive on sureness. Change means stepping into the unknown and losing your comfortable routine, and that's frightening.

I also knew that to a large degree, I had to give up control. That's scary too. Sure, I prepared as well as I could, but I couldn't run everything. Change involves so many factors that you just can't manipulate all of them.

When you're not in control, you lose your sense of invulnerability. You quickly realize you're not as powerful as you thought. That bravery you put so much pride in seems to evaporate when you realize you're not the one in charge any more.

Family members and friends can help you change, but they have their own lives to lead and their own priorities. They can't do everything for you. Most of the time they're struggling so much in their own lives that they can't give you all the support you'd like.

The Critical Element to Lasting Change is God the Father and Jesus Christ his son.

God supplies everything you need for successful change, and when you make changes with his help, you stay changed.

The unknown can overwhelm you, but God is omniscient, which means he knows all things, including the future. He can prepare you for the future in ways you can't prepare yourself, and he works all things for the good of his followers (Romans 8:28). God is the guide who is never surprised.

God is in control as well. The being who created the vast universe and keeps it operating in perfect harmony is also a personal God who intervenes in people's lives. He exercises his control to keep those who obey him in his will.

When you feel weak in the face of change, God is omnipotent, or all-powerful. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Knowing the invincible God is on your side gives you tremendous confidence.

The most important attribute God brings when you're making a change is his unconditional love for you. Unlike that of family and friends, his love never wavers. He wants only the best for you, and when change makes you suffer, as it often does, he stands closest to you, giving comfort and strength. Sometimes his love is the only thing that gets you through.

1 comment:

janis said...

Brooke~ Great post! Very helpful to me as well. Sometimes change is so scary, but when I remember to put it in God's hands it isnt quite so frightening. Sometimes, He can even make me excited about what this frightening change will bring to me in the long run. I have been known to have a conversation with God that, in a nutshell... is me saying, "okay God, help me to stay focused that you are in charge and you will see me through this & this change will bring me to something in your plan for me. so help me to be brave and weather it out because I am so excited to see what you have to come for me through this!
Keep writing!
Love you!