October 31

            It has been said that the only constant in life is change. And many people do not like change. Change means the unknown, not being sure of what lies ahead. Fear drives our resistance to change, even when that change is for the better. But even though we know change is inevitable, it’s sometimes hard for us to distinguish between change for change’s sake and change that results in progress.

            As with many other subjects, the Bible is replete with verses regarding change. For example, one of the more well-known verses is Jeremiah 29:11. “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” In 2 Corinthians, Paul says, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” And Romans 12:1-2 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

            The point of these and other verses is that even though change is scary, we should not worry about it; rather, we should strive to remember that God is always with us through the changes – not easy, since humans tend to be stubborn about not giving things up. But with God’s help, we can live our lives not in fear, but in love, and determine what is change and what is progress.