Lasting Change

Do you remember in grade school writing things in people’s year books like, “You are so nice. Don’t ever change!”?

For those of us who have kids, how many times have we said, “I don’t want this stage to end!” (and then we begged for others stages to change as fast as possible, but that’s for another topic!).

The thought process seems to be that if things change, it will not be as good as it is now.

God created us with the innate ability to maintain a state of internal balance called Homeostasis. Our physical bodies naturally know how to fight off change. Interesting, isn’t it?!

Look at our body temperature. When we are healthy, we maintain an internal temperature of approximately 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If we get too cold, our bodies shiver to warm us up. If we get too hot, we sweat to cool ourselves down.

Even things like our blood sugar levels, our immune system, our blood pressure, our breathing patterns – all of this is involuntarily regulated to keep us the same despite the ever-changing conditions around us.

I think the same can be said for our minds – we like things to be the same. We use words like consistent, reliable and loyal when describing positive attributes in people who stay the same.

We talk about how to establish habits by doing the same thing over and over and over.

Are you starting to understand why lasting change is so difficult?!

WE LOVE SAME-NESS!!!!

And yet…

The world God created for us to live in is ever changing. Interesting, isn’t it?!

Perhaps this is where ‘peace that passes understanding’ comes in to play.

It’s hard for us to grasp the concept of change being so natural and unnatural all at the same time.

Here’s a cool thought though – even Jesus had to change!

Think about it, the Son of God had to change when He came to live on this earth with us.

He changed His environment from heaven to earth – from the throne in an everlasting kingdom to a stinky manger – from a place with no tears to a world filled with pain and sorrow.

And yet…

He kept His SAME-NESS.

Jesus never abandoned His trust in His Father’s plan. Though the world around Him was changing from acceptance to anger, He stayed the course.

We get scared at the thought of change and call it the Fear of the Unknown.

Jesus walked forward in faith and relied on God’s guidance and promises.

Do you believe that we have the same guidance and promises that God gave Jesus?!

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

This is the beginning of lasting change – trusting that the God who made you in His image knows what He is doing and can satisfy your need for SAME-NESS while guiding you through this changing world.

Take time today or this weekend and ask God to show you what changes you have fear over.

Be open and honest with Him about why you are afraid of these changes.

Allow Him to be the foundation of SAME-NESS and change in your life.