The last few years have been full of change for me. I became a mother. And since then, the newborn I once nursed is now a preschooler who just performed in her first dance recital, is currently taking swim lessons and will soon start soccer ones. During that same time, we moved states. We bought a house. We moved into a new neighborhood. My mother-in-law now lives with us. My retired parents now live 8 minutes from us. Old friends have become long-distance ones. New acquaintances have become trusted friends. We changed churches. I closed down a business. I launched two new ones. I’ve made some radical but much needed changes to my nutrition and fitness.
The dust of transition had seemed to settle the last few months, and to be honest, it has been a much needed reprieve from the wave after wave of change we’ve experienced since 2022. It’s been a Selah moment— where things feel still and calm, giving us the opportunity to rest, refresh, and thank God for all He has done in our lives these past few years.
Now, some new changes are upon us. I am once again reminded that following Jesus and living in step with His Spirit has a way of continually calling us out of our comfort and into the unknown and uncomfortable.
As I look change straight in the face once again, I am reminding myself of a few truths. May these serve as gentle reminders to all of us stepping into new seasons, new territories, new spaces, and ultimately new adventures. Whether they are of our choosing or not, we need not fear because our God is with us every step of the way…
Change is an invitation to draw near to Jesus.
When things are changing in your life, there is always an invitation from Jesus to come to Him, to receive from Him, to learn from Him. Accept the invite. Seek Him with a newfound desperation and hunger. The waves around you may feel incredibly choppy and elicit fear and anxiety within. When they do, fix your gaze on Jesus. Let Him be the lifter of your head and reveal Himself to you in new extraordinary ways.
Change can change you for the better if you let it.
When you experience a major change in life, you have an opportunity to decide how this transition can foster your personal development and growth. You get to ask yourself a few powerful and clarifying questions: Who do I want to become moving forward? What Christlike characteristics do I want more of in my life? And how can I turn to Jesus and rely on His Spirit and grace to transform my thinking and perspective? The most impactful changes in life aren’t the external ones; they are the ones that begin in your heart and mind.
Change is an opportunity to refine your values.
When we relocated from New York to Texas a couple of years back, Ben and I had some honest and prayerful conversations about what we valued most and how we planned to stay true to those values moving forward. We had always said we valued our marriage and our family, but the move gave us an opportunity to create some new rhythms, practices and boundaries to make sure that those values were more than lip service in our day-to-day living. Change is the perfect time to take a fresh look at where you have been investing your time, energy and resources and ask yourself, “How has that been working out for me?” Then ask the Lord to show you what matters most and where to focus your energy and efforts moving forward.
Change doesn’t need to be lonely.
Change can feel lonely… especially when it appears like those around you are going about their lives as business as usual. You can buy the lie that they don’t understand what you are going through and that opening up to them won’t do much good. Or if the change you are experiencing is an answer to prayer and a cause for celebration, you can feel guilty about having feelings of nervousness, worry, fear, anxiety, and even grief. So you don’t talk about it to anyone, and as a result, a sense of isolation creeps in. Don’t let it. The people you trust— your spouse, your family, your friends, your pastors, your mentors— don’t need to be walking through the same changes as you to be a support to you. They love you and they want to be a sounding board, a listening ear, and a person of prayer in your world. So let them in.
Change is navigated best with faith, hope, and love.
Don’t travel down the road of change without the companions of faith, hope and love. Stay near to them and listen to them. Be in the Word and meditate on scripture. Worship the Lord every single day. Pray to Him as a child cries out to their Abba Father. Keep engaging in your local church and investing in authentic community. Be intentional about what and who you listen to from social media to music selections to podcasts subscriptions to limited series you stream. Amplify the voices of faith, hope and love in your life. When they are your travel companions, dark and dangerous paths become illuminated, each step filled with peace and joy.