Celebrating Change

Another incredibly powerful tool for purposeful living is the ability to celebrate and embrace change.

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18:2)

Our Lord, Our God, is constant, eternal, unchanging. He is the Alpha and Omega: omniscient, omnipotent and everlasting. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)  The essence of this created world, however – with every creature, every flower, every leaf, every bird, every rock – is change. We see clearly that “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)  Life flows in a constant flux, so resistance to the flow of change inevitably causes conflict. Yielding to and flowing with change, however, leads to peace, hope and eager expectation for the future.

When we do not find our joy and peace in the unchanging God, it is easy for us to seek fulfillment through attachment: attachment to things, to people, to relationships, to circumstances. When changes threaten these temporal attachments, we begin to fear; we grow anxious, discouraged and sometimes angry. Yet God created the world in a state of change – with day and night, with summer and winter, with life and death. “My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass.” (Psalm 102:11) The constant movement of daylight and of seasons reflects this natural law and encourages us to embrace the flow of change. God – yes, only God – is the Source of true stability and solidity.

When we allow God to fill us, when we invite God to bring us hope, when we embrace His love, we need no attachments. We can proclaim confidently that “He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” (Psalm 62:6)   In doing so, we embrace the changes God allows. We look forward with great anticipation the good things which will come. For we know that “He is the rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

Is there any area in your life in which you are not embracing change? Are you clinging to any attachments? As you travel upon your purposeful pathway, I encourage you to embrace the love of God and celebrate the flow of change. Discover firsthand the liberating paradox: by clinging firmly to the Eternal God and standing firmly on the Rock of Truth, you will flow freely and peacefully with the beautiful currents of time and change.

“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” (2 Samuel 22:31)

© 2011 Caroline Gavin

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How will you celebrate change today?

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