Dealing With Change

Matthew 17:22-23 – When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. (NIV)

Like most people, I find changes very hard to accept. Sometimes, I push back against them, even if the changes are meant to make my life better. I guess I get comfortable in my own routine, so I resist any alterations. I admit that sometimes, I don't fully listen to those changes being explained, which is part of my problem with the transition. I miss the point entirely.

We live in very changeable and turbulent times. This creates a lot of uncertainty and causes us to look for answers in some of the wrong places, like fake news or unsubstantiated reports. Sometimes, when significant changes happen, we become emotionally paralyzed, stick our heads in the sand, and end up dismissing the alterations that we cannot face.

In today's Scripture, the disciples appear to have missed the point. Jesus has told them about His death and resurrection, but they got hung up on the bad part of His message. Of course, it could be that they were shocked and couldn't get past the image of Christ being killed. I guess that if we had been in their shoes at the same time, we might have dwelled on it, too. This shows us how human the disciples really were, which means that we can often relate to their natural responses to all that Christ said or did.

We live in immensely transitional times, so it's very easy to get downhearted about all the things beyond our control. We can choose to be fearful about the future, or we can decide to remain faithful to the values that we personally embrace. Change is never easy, but it can be an opportunity to consolidate our reliance on God. I personally have found that when I'm faced with turbulent transitions, I pray more often and more deeply. This makes me understand how much I actually depend upon God to help me endure, and it enables me to eventually overcome my changing circumstances. Instead of dwelling on my difficulties, I prayerfully hand them over to God, letting Him do what I can't and allowing Him to lead me where He wants.

Points to ponder: What am I afraid of most, right now? Am I willing to let God help me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You perfectly understand our present circumstances. Embrace us at this moment in time and lead us each day. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.

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