The Most Important Thing to Do to Handle Change

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How well do you handle change?

Changes come in all shapes and sizes. We grow, learn, mature, relocate, age, win, and lose. Some changes are exciting and others knock us off our feet.

But one thing is certain … change is inevitable!

When Rev and I were married we moved to St. Louis, an 11-hour drive from my family and a 13-hour drive from his. It was a huge change that I handled by gaining 30 pounds. Not my finest season.

Two years later we moved to Ohio. The next year we moved back to St. Louis and had a baby. Two more years and we’d added another move and had another baby.

I handled those changes more gracefully than the original move and almost believed I was getting pretty good at handling change. But that was only partially true. Although I didn’t show any outward physical signs, on the inside I continued to be afraid and worried about major painful life-altering changes.

Oh, I knew Paul’s counsel…

 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6–7

But the enemy continually reminded me that I lived in the real world where bad things happen. And it’s true. Bad things do happen. The problem is that he also wants us to believe the lie that God won’t or can’t help … that we’re on our own to handle change.

And that’s another one of his lies that can be refuted with God’s Truth!

God promised His people…

For I hold you by your right hand—
    I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,
    Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

Isaiah 41:13

David wrote…

Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for You are close beside me.
Your rod and Your staff
    protect and comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

And Jesus promised…

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it does not see Him or know Him. But you know Him, because He lives with you and He will be in you.

John 14:16–17 (NCV)

Sadly, it took some major painful life changes for God to show me that He faithfully keeps His promises. When you and I pray and trust Him, He will give us His hard-to-understand peace. We can rely on Him to tenderly guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

We can trust His promise and His oath…

So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Hebrews 6:18–19

If you find it hard to handle change run to God in prayer and trust Him to keep His promises.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer To Trust God
to Help You Handle Change

Father God, I wanted to believe I was a fan of adventure but after realizing how poorly I handle change, I now understand how much I need You. Whether my days are full of a calm routine or rough and bumpy with uncertainty, I never have to live them on my own.

You are faithful to keep Your promises. You promise to be with me, hold me, and guide me. I believe that with Your help, I can face whatever You allow. You don’t promise it will be easy but You do promise to be close beside me and give me everything I need.

Please forgive me for listening to the enemy’s lies … forgive my doubt and fear. I give it all to You and ask You to help me remember that I will never have to handle change alone. With Your Spirit’s help, I can boldly and confidently live each day You give me.

You inspired John to write, “This is the boldness we have in God’s presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what He wants, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14) Graciously help me trust Your presence and remain in Your will.

Help me in the name of the One who never changes. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

It’s interesting … change is often the thing that makes us recognize how much we need the Lord in our lives.

Warren Wiersbe wrote…

“Nothing paralyzes our lives like the attitude that things can never change. We need to remind ourselves that God can change things. Outlook determines outcome. If we see only the problems, we will be defeated; but if we see the possibilities in the problems, we can have victory.”

God can use any change for His glory and the good of His children. We don’t have to worry or live in fear because we know and love the One who gives us victory.

May He be with you and bless you through every change.

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