What Do You Think About Change?

What do you think about change?  To me, it depends on where the change is taking place.  I like change when it comes to my clothes, hair or maybe in my menus.  I even don’t mind change at appropriate times such as at the beginning of the New Year, school year or a new season of life.  But right now I am not liking the change that is going on around me.  I find myself resisting the change and even being a bit angry about it.  While discussing the changes with a friend, the friend asked me a question which made me think about my reasons for resisting change.  The question was “Am I resisting the change because I don’t like change or because I have a valid reason to resist the change?”   Right now I don’t have an answer to that question.

Here is an example to think through some of the questions I have been asking myself.  Your church has a traditional style of worship and is now looking to change to a more contemporary style.  (Note: I am not taking sides one way or the other.)  You find yourself resisting the change.  Why?  Is it because you really like the traditional style and see no reason to change?  Or could it be a physical reason where the new style of music with the bass hurts your ears?  I actually had a friend whose parents had to change churches because the music literally hurt her dad’s ears. Maybe you are worried how the change will affect your family, friends or even the church.   Or is it how the decision is being made?  You are wondering if the decision was thought through and prayed through.   Was it a decision made by one person or a decision made with the counsel of wise people?  Is it a trust issue?  Do I trust that the people making the decision?

The change in my life does not have to do with a change in the style of worship but in a style of how things are done.  I am asking myself many of the above questions and praying through my response to this change. I am asking God to change my heart where it needs changed and to help me know when change needs to be resisted.   I am also resting in the promise that even though everything around me changes, God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Dear God, Thank you that you are a God who changes hearts and lives to be more like your son.  May we always embrace those changes in our lives.  Thank you that you are the same yesterday, today and forever.  Be with the changes in our lives.  May we process them in a godly way and not just how we feel emotionally.  Give us wisdom on the changes that happen everyday around us.  In Your Son’s name, Amen