Can You Spare Some Change?

Life is full of changes.  Can I get an "Amen"?  Usually, I try to plan these changes into my life so there will be a smoother transition.  It doesn't always work, especially when the "Changes" bring relatives like cousin "Unforeseen" or uncle "Didn't Even THINK About That".  I know the Bible talks about changes and well-known verses are often quoted regarding change (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).  You see in the Old Testament how often the Hebrews' circumstances change- from slavery to wilderness, from being led by judges to kings, from a divided kingdom back to slavery...  In each change, God's hand is there, either leading His people or being ignored by His people.

I'm currently going through a season of change.  Much more change than I would have thought possible at one time.  I admit, I did "plan" one of the changes, but the rest were not anywhere on my radar.  They came as shocks to my neatly laid out and stable life.  I was trying to balance all this and plan how to work the change back into a manageable life when I realized I was ignoring God's hand.  It was not as if I was worrying or trying to take back anything I had put at His feet.  Actually, I never put it at His feet like I should have.  I didn't take the time to pray and seek His direction. Someday (far, far, far in the future) I might permanently learn this lesson, instead of temporarily (i.e.- until the "next time").

Having taken that step back (although some days I take a half-step forward, still working on this) I'm seeing God work, and it's amazing.  His direction is so much more "stable" than anything I tried.  His answers to the prayers I never took the time to utter astound me and make me feel blessed.  Even if I wasn't worried or concerned before, now I'm also at peace.  He's taken these changes that I thought of as "shocks" and turned them into adventures of meeting new people, learning more about Him, and being excited for the next change (because they're still coming).

So here's to change:  the changing of my heart to be more like His, the changing of my will to reflect His, and the changes in my life to carry out His work.