Promise:
God knows what He is doing. Even if we don’t.
Passage:
Judith Couchman’s Designing a Women’s Life book has held a special place to me for decades. In it she describes her career progression into her calling:
“Over the last decade at several junctures focus has required giving up with a cling to most,” she writes. “A secure job.”
“When a position has no longer accommodated my growing purpose, God pushed me to move on. In two instances he terminated jobs to carry me, squirming and complaining, to the next level of focus. Each time the transition frightened me, but I look back and understand that every time God knew what he was doing. Sometimes when we are too afraid or inert to implement change, God starts the process for us.”
Perhaps this is where we find you today. Squirming. Complaining. Confused. Frightened.
You have heard that change is hard. Change management is a whole field of academic study and professional practice. Job change can be difficult, or downright traumatic. Changes in our family circumstances, health, or well being can be difficult, even if we choose them and consider them “good.” We even have a hard time changing our mind.
But you know what doesn’t change? Our God and savior. Read what James and the writer of Hebrew say:
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
Hebrews 13:8
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
While we squirm, God is steadfast. While we complain and grasp onto things, God is the giver of all good gifts. While we are shocked and derailed, God is steadily working. How can we join Him?
Practice:
Think of some times when you have had changed forced on you. Start with your childhood and go up until your present. Consider these as you reflect on the questions below.
Pause:
What is your earliest memory of change? How did I make you feel? Note the circumstances and adjectives you’d use to describe your feelings below.
Can you think of a time when God allowed circumstances to push you into change for the good? What happened? How did you feel initially? How do you feel about it now that some time has passed?
What are the changes that led to you being in job transition? How do those make you feel? What words or descriptors come to mind? Be honest, even if the words are not flattering or demonstrate great faith. Treat them as a confession.
Pray over the changes you are encountering and that God give you a spirit of courage to overcome your fear.
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