We Can Live Victoriously Through Change

By Eileen Birch, Parish Nurse

Easter is the best example of living victoriously through change. Christ's Resurrection transformed humanity. At first, the early Christians didn't see God's design to change the human race, and we too are often surprised by events and fail to see grace in many of our life changes.

Change happens. We cannot escape change. We may long for simpler days when things were stable, but those days never really existed. Natural disasters, political upheaval, war, violence, terrorism, job insecurity, illness, birth, death, strained relationships and more are part of life.

Change can hurt. Even positive changes create stress. When we lose the comfortable, familiar patterns in life, we have to work to re-establish a sense of confidence and security, form new relationships and re-affirm old ones.

Some changes hurt so much they leave us devastated. Losing a job strips away much of a person's identity, as well as financial security. Being transplanted to a strange place takes away the familiar reference points that give us stability. Hearing from a doctor, "It's cancer." is a frightening experience. The death of a spouse, a child, a sibling, or a friend can "tear us apart". Acts of violence destroy our trust and optimism.

Yet, in those moments of utter devastation, God not only remains faithful, but He works at the deepest level of our being to bring about new opportunities and possibilities.

How can we hope in the Lord during periods of tumultuous change? First, we need to pray. This includes pouring out our pain to Him as well as listening to Him. Second, look for the good things God is doing in our lives. Finally, we need to take risks to do new things and move into unknown territory, trusting God to lead the way.

Change sometimes forces us to truly live by faith. When everything feels stable, we can live in the delusion that we are in full control of our lives. We sometimes begin to think that we don't need God. We lose sympathy for those who are suffering. Some changes bring us back to placing our hands in His and trusting Him again as our loving Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.

Please feel free to contact me if I can be of assistance with the changes in your life.