By Jill Krueger Wagner
I once read, “Make a friend of change, it’s the only
constant in life.” I didn’t agree. I thought to myself, “Jesus is also a
constant in my life.” However, I’ve never forgotten the sentiment. Applying it
isn’t easy for me. Not liking change doesn’t negate the fact that adjustments
must be made when your circumstances are upended. I find comfort in routine so
when it’s disrupted, I often flounder.
Since I’m adjusting to one of the biggest changes in my
life, I’ve learned a few things.
First, focus is everything. I must choose what I focus on.
If I focus on the difficulty of adjusting to a new circumstance, life is hard,
hard, hard. If I focus on finding God’s good plan for my new circumstances, I
can find peace. “You keep him in perfect
peace whose mind is stayed on you.” Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Second, I need to recognize that I don’t have all the wisdom
I need - a friend might be able to help me. Pride might tell me not to share
with others so that I appear knowledgeable & in control but that just robs
me of wisdom found in the collective of many minds. “Without counsel, plans fail,
but with many advisors, they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22 ESV
Third, sometimes I just need to take a break from trying to
solve an issue. I need to rest with God. “Be still and know I am God!” Psalm 46:10 NIV
Fourth, when I need to adjust to a situation, I have a
tendency to fold into self-pity but the quickest way to pull myself out of that
temptation is to praise. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy
nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of
the One who called you out of darkness.” 1 Peter 2:8
