CHANGE HAPPENS

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

“God does not change, but He uses change—to change us. He sends us on journeys that bring us to the end of ourselves. We often feel out of control, yet if we embrace His leading, we may find ourselves on the ride of our lives.”  - Jen Hatmaker

Isn’t that the truth!

Are you like me? Change averse?

Ask my family, Delaney’s are creature of routine.

And since I found sobriety, routine is a critical component to my journey.  

It helps me stay focused and it helps set the day best.

But let’s unpack what Jen is saying.

The LORD does not change.  True.

Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, and today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8 (KJV)

But GOD will USE CHANGE.

I see this ALL the time.

GOD allows new circumstances.

GOD allows for challenge.

And often it IS to set us on a journey of discovery, advancement, and growth!  

To bring us to the end of us and a new beginning of HIM!!

Think about it.

If our faith is weak, it may not be obvious when life is going smoothly and we aren’t challenged in any way.  But when something challenges us, when something is forced to change, a weak faith may be revealed.

Sometimes the changes/challenges are “really challenging”, something that alters our course and journey SEVERELY: an unexpected illness, the death of a loved one, the loss of our job, or even a friend who turns against us. And sometimes they are subtler.  But know this when hard times happen, the true nature of our faith will be revealed.

Beth and I were sharing our story with some graduate students at Cedarville U yesterday.  And sometimes I forget HOW MUCH Beth had to endure during my challenges, challenges that became her challenges.  I get reminded of how Beth’s faith was advanced and how her resolve was forged as she navigated my illness, the children the bankruptcy, and the mess.  And while her FAITH was in no way WEAK to begin with, at the end of that RIDE her faith was steely and it continues to strengthen as she adheres to this simple encouragement and leading from the Lord daily; You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words – Psalm 119:5 (NIV)

But make no bones about it God doesn’t ALLOW the TEST because He doesn’t know how strong we are. Rather the test is to reveal that we TRULY don’t know how strong we are — and we’ll only realize it when times of testing come.

Face it, none of us likes to go through hard times.  None of are big fans of change, right?

But GOD can use them to show us our weaknesses. And when that happens, all we need to do is ask GOD to help our faith grow. Testing will make us spiritually stronger — and it will as we turn it over to God or as Hatmaker surmises embrace the leading, GOD’S Word will once again prove unerring.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials … so that you may be mature and complete - James 1:2, 4 (NASB)

Have a blessed weekend.

I love you all.

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE