The problem with this is that I also love growing. I enjoy reaching new milestones in my life and walk with God. I cherish those moments when I can think back a year ago or even 3 years ago and see the difference in my life.
As I think about the various things I've gone through over the past few years, I can see how God has used those experiences to grow me and how wonderful my life is now as a result. I'm thankful that God loves me enough to provoke the change He desires in me, even if I don't like it at the time. What I also realize is that without my cooperation throughout the process, I would still be in the same place I was all those years ago, and that, my friend, would be a tragedy.
Nonetheless, in the
moment, the process of change can be very scary. For me, it provokes emotions in me that
threaten to overwhelm and disrupt my entire purpose. It strips away my comfort zones and leaves me feeling vulnerable.
It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear…It’s like being between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to. -- Marilyn Ferguson, American futurist
It’s not so much that we’re afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it’s that place in between that we fear…It’s like being between trapezes. It’s Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There’s nothing to hold on to. -- Marilyn Ferguson, American futurist
Although the process of change creates a seemingly unstable place, whenever I have been able to successfully embrace it and seize the opportunity to grow, I have found that the result is greater than I could have ever expected. You see, change forces us to pray more, seek Him at a greater level, listen for His voice more attentively and obey His Word more quickly. That translates into increased faith and manifestation of His Will for our lives.
That's if we are serious about growing and experiencing the promises of God for real. Otherwise, change causes us to become angry and rebellious, return to sin and carnal habits, seek out quick fixes and empty sources of pleasure, and totally get off course and out of the will of God. That's a dangerous place for anyone.
How you manage yourself through the various changes that God allows in your life will determine whether you grow or remain as you are. I can tell you this. Growing is down right hard, but remaining the same is worse than death.
I've watched God do amazing things in my life through change processes that I could have sworn were designed to make me go crazy. Seven years ago, I lost custody of my sons, and I thought for certain I had lost my reason for living. I was so distraught. I was angry, hurt, depressed, lost, heart-broken and confused. Most of all, I was overwhelmed with pain.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2
My sister, I've watched God use my toughest challenge to develop a faith in Him that cannot be shaken. I've watched him take my pain, my tears, my frustrations, even my confusion and give me stability, clarity, confidence, significance and purpose. He had a divine plan all along, and through the pain of my process, He delivered on His promise. He kept His Word.
I'm not here to tell you that the process was easy. There were days I wanted to throw in the towel and abandoned His will for my own. I did not like the change nor the emotions that came with it. But trust me, embracing the change was key to unlocking my next level of purpose.
As I've said, its not at all easy, and as women, we are more prone than men to suffer the emotional roller coaster that change causes. But you can get through it if you will remain committed to His will for your life and trust that His plan is working for your good.
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. Jeremiah 29:11
That's if we are serious about growing and experiencing the promises of God for real. Otherwise, change causes us to become angry and rebellious, return to sin and carnal habits, seek out quick fixes and empty sources of pleasure, and totally get off course and out of the will of God. That's a dangerous place for anyone.
How you manage yourself through the various changes that God allows in your life will determine whether you grow or remain as you are. I can tell you this. Growing is down right hard, but remaining the same is worse than death.
I've watched God do amazing things in my life through change processes that I could have sworn were designed to make me go crazy. Seven years ago, I lost custody of my sons, and I thought for certain I had lost my reason for living. I was so distraught. I was angry, hurt, depressed, lost, heart-broken and confused. Most of all, I was overwhelmed with pain.
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2
My sister, I've watched God use my toughest challenge to develop a faith in Him that cannot be shaken. I've watched him take my pain, my tears, my frustrations, even my confusion and give me stability, clarity, confidence, significance and purpose. He had a divine plan all along, and through the pain of my process, He delivered on His promise. He kept His Word.
I'm not here to tell you that the process was easy. There were days I wanted to throw in the towel and abandoned His will for my own. I did not like the change nor the emotions that came with it. But trust me, embracing the change was key to unlocking my next level of purpose.
As I've said, its not at all easy, and as women, we are more prone than men to suffer the emotional roller coaster that change causes. But you can get through it if you will remain committed to His will for your life and trust that His plan is working for your good.
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. Jeremiah 29:11
Remember, God never wastes a situation. Every
situation, good or bad, easy or difficult, big or small is a divine blessing and
opportunity from God for us to grow. We just have to be willing to endure the
process.
You have to be resilient when the wave of emotions threatens
to overtake you. You have to get up quickly whenever something knocks you flat on your face. In a nutshell, you have to be tougher than the
challenge you’re facing. You have to be
stronger than the emotions you’re feeling.
How tough are you? Do you wallow in the varying emotions that accompany your changes/difficulties? Do you spend more time complaining and crying about the change or situation than facing it? Do you waste time being angry at God or others and searching for someone to blame? Or do you put on your big-girl panties, manage yourself even at the height of your emotions and face the change head on?
How tough are you? Do you wallow in the varying emotions that accompany your changes/difficulties? Do you spend more time complaining and crying about the change or situation than facing it? Do you waste time being angry at God or others and searching for someone to blame? Or do you put on your big-girl panties, manage yourself even at the height of your emotions and face the change head on?
You have to stand in the face of change or difficulty and
know that at the end of the process lies the promise of God for your life, the
answer to the prayers you’ve been praying, and the faith required to walk in
your new level of purpose.
And then, you must go!
I cannot effectively describe for you what God has done in my life over the last seven years because it has been such a mind-blowing journey. He restored me. He redeemed me. He loved me. And most of all, He remembered me. He remembered His promise, and He kept it. He remembered my prayers, and He answered them. He heard my cry, and He comforted me.
He made me stronger than ever, but first, I had to be destroyed. My will. My flesh. My wants and desires. My habits and ways. All of it had to go. I had to be willing to suffer through the changes He required in order to receive the blessing.
And then, you must go!
I cannot effectively describe for you what God has done in my life over the last seven years because it has been such a mind-blowing journey. He restored me. He redeemed me. He loved me. And most of all, He remembered me. He remembered His promise, and He kept it. He remembered my prayers, and He answered them. He heard my cry, and He comforted me.
He made me stronger than ever, but first, I had to be destroyed. My will. My flesh. My wants and desires. My habits and ways. All of it had to go. I had to be willing to suffer through the changes He required in order to receive the blessing.
My sister, now is your time to go! Now is your time to grow!
You cannot become paralyzed by fear.
You cannot waste time focused on the past.
You cannot throw a tantrum because you’re uncomfortable.
You cannot rebel and refuse to cooperate with God’s plan.
You must go!
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
There is more waiting on the other side for you. More of God! More of His Promise! More of You!
Moses had been with Israel a long time but He was not the one who would lead them into Canaan. It would be Joshua. Perhaps this was a difficult change for Israel. They knew Moses. Trusted him and his leadership. They were accustomed to him. They were comfortable with him. They knew what to expect from him.
But Moses was their past. God had a different plan for their future.
There is more waiting on the other side for you. More of God! More of His Promise! More of You!
Moses had been with Israel a long time but He was not the one who would lead them into Canaan. It would be Joshua. Perhaps this was a difficult change for Israel. They knew Moses. Trusted him and his leadership. They were accustomed to him. They were comfortable with him. They knew what to expect from him.
But Moses was their past. God had a different plan for their future.
Think about how unfortunate it would have been if Israel
What about you? Will you go with God into your promise? Or will you stay in the wilderness and mourn for Moses?
What about you? Will you go with God into your promise? Or will you stay in the wilderness and mourn for Moses?
Sister girl, if God has orchestrated a change in your life recently, it’s time to start preparing for the journey. If you've had the wind knocked out of you, it’s time to get up, shake yourself off, take a deep breath, put on some mascara and lip-gloss and handle your business!
Make it happen!
Make it happen!
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