Growth Through ChangeSample

Growth begins with change. We see this quite clearly within nature: An oak tree starts with an acorn and changes. A butterfly is formed with a cocoon and changes. A flower blooms from a bud, and changes. We also see this throughout our own lives. We grow taller, our voices change, and our appearance slowly transforms as the years go by. As a child, I can remember the soreness that my mother would refer to as “growing pains.” Growth and change are heavily related. Where you find one, you will almost always find the other. The difficulty with this concept is simple: everyone wants to grow, but nobody likes change. Yet, in order for us to embrace growth, we must also embrace change. We must view change as a necessary piece of the puzzle, even though it may be uncomfortable to navigate at times. Change is scary because it often requires action on our part. This action, be it a response to change or a catalyst for it, forces us to make a decision. We weigh out our options, hoping that we make the right choice. I’ve made changes when I’ve felt they were necessary, and I’ve had change thrown onto me. What I’ve found is that there are two ways to make peace with change: 1\. Bring your concerns to God. 2\. Don’t resist the change. When we feel fearful or uncertain about an upcoming change, we must bring these concerns to God. The size of the change doesn’t matter, and that which we feel is a drastic transformation is a minor shift in the eyes of the Lord. Remember, it is He who sees the entire picture, while we’re focused on a small portion. Invite Him in to go over these concerns, and listen to His Wisdom when He presents it to you. Don’t resist or struggle against the changes that you cannot control. Instead, seek the wisdom and understanding that are needed to adapt to the change, and incorporate it into your life.