Step Out in Courage
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
Why do I complain about change? It isn’t like my life has been awful. It isn’t like it is getting worse every twenty-four hours. I understand the fears, in time we all get old and will ultimately die, but that doesn’t mean that everything up to this point is to be filled with dread. Living a faithful life is easier when we accept the inevitable changes all around us.
Adrian Drew, in his article “Stop Expecting Everything to Stay the Same,” points out, “…you could even go so far as to say that all of our emotional suffering comes from attachment. Losing a partner, a job, our money-these things would be easier to deal with if we accept that they were inevitable facts of life. But we don’t. Instead we cling. We hold onto things.” We are so busy clinging and grasping, that it makes our pain even worse.
God is calling us to trust even in the ups and downs of life. Drew claims the way to face change in a healthy manner is to “Expect, Don’t Resist.” Why are we surprised by change, both positive and negative? Change is a given. Where I disagree with Adrian Drew is when he recommends, “Attachment Often Leads to Misery.” Without attachment, life is nihilistic. Turning off emotion dulls the pain but leaves us cold. It takes courage to face our pain with courage. It is the only way we can continue to experience the fulness of life. The key is not to avoid, but to draw strength and courage from God.
Today, pray for the courage to face the fear of change. But remember, you are not doing it alone. The Holy Spirit is the means to not only endure, but to learn and grow through the experience of change. Yes, change includes pain, but with God, change also includes the joys of life. Trusting God provides the way to facing change with confidence. Step out in courage and your life will be full, both now and for all eternity.
