A Prayer to Embrace Change with an Open Heart
By Megan Evans
Bible Reading
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” - Hebrews p13:8 (CSB)
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Change can be both challenging and rewarding. Sometimes, we may welcome it, while other times, we may resist it. If you are facing change today, take heart. Seeking God's wisdom and guidance gives us the confidence to embrace it with an open heart. Something is comforting about predictability and familiarity, while change can feel like shifting sand under our feet. It's hard to know where to step and whether or not we will fall. It's no surprise when we experience uncertainty, anxiousness, and even fear. Thankfully, in Christ, we have sure footing and peace to navigate each new moment of the day.
We can confidently embrace change in our lives because God is unchanging. He is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-present. Hebrews 13:8 victoriously proclaims that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, He alone provides the solid foundation upon which we can live.
Here are five common reasons why change is difficult, though not an exhaustive list:
- Unknown steps and outcomes feel scary at times
- We might fear getting hurt or repeating the past
- Change may cause sadness and grieving or require healing
- Timing can feel too slow or too fast
- We only see part of God's great plan
Change is hard on our human hearts, and we need Jesus every step of the way. No circumstance catches Him off guard, and He cares for every detail. Because God is unchanging, His Truth is relevant to anything we experience, and His power and provision are perfect.
Ultimate change is beautiful work that starts at the cross. As it says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" As children of God, the rest of our lives will be a process of becoming more Christlike, known as sanctification. With Jesus as our Cornerstone, we are ready for His molding and shaping so that we can grow and mature daily.
Change ushers in new life experiences and is part of God's good work. It is a necessary part of our lives and becomes less scary as we learn to trust the Lord. If you long for change today, be encouraged that He has not forgotten you. Waiting on the Lord is hard but holy work because we can't see the entirety of God's plan. As it says in Isaiah 43:19, "Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."
Our world is evidence of the sustaining, unchanging hand of Jesus. It was created and set in motion through Him. From the lushest jungles to the driest deserts, plants and animals still teem with life. Day and night still trade places as the earth rotates, and seasons come and go as the planets travel around the sun. Movement is part of God's beautiful design.
The Lord has a wonderful plan for each of our lives and wants us to know Him intimately. As we study the Bible and experience daily life, we will continue to learn God's character and promises. While life is full of ups and downs, requiring us to make countless choices and adaptations, we don't go through a single moment alone. In John 14:26, Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to teach and guide his disciples, including you and me.
God has prepared us for change, and Revelation 21:5 declares that God is making all things new. What a beautiful promise of complete and holy transformation as we look forward to a new heaven and earth. Our earthly minds can't comprehend God's splendor and eternal glory that we will experience with Him eternally. Anchored to this future victory, we can embrace change with an open heart today. Anything we experience on this earth, the good and the bad, can be enveloped securely in the balm of God's unchanging love, peace, and joy.
Let's Pray:
Father God, I worship you and open my heart to trust you for the changes in my life. Deliver me from all fear and doubt, and remind me often to anchor my thoughts and emotions to your unchanging love and unmovable truth. Show me where I need to grow. Redeem any ground the enemy has claimed as a stronghold due to my resistance to change, and in place of my stubbornness and pride, give me a willing and obedient heart that is moldable by you, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart and teach me your new and better way. Change me daily to look more and more like Jesus, and lead me into areas of needed change for my good and your glory.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ksenija18kz
Related Resource: Jesus Calling - Stories of Faith
Kerry Washington. Andrea Bocelli. Reba McEntire. Mark Wahlberg. Tony Dungy. Matthew McConaughey, What do all of these people have in common? They are all people of faith who have leaned on God in both the good and challenging times—and they’ve shown up to tell their story of faith on The Jesus Calling Podcast. The Jesus Calling Podcast provides a place for people from all walks of life to share the heartaches, joys, and divine moments that keep them going.
Inspired by Sarah Young's classic devotional book, the Jesus Calling podcast has brought encouragement and peace to millions. New episodes drop every Thursday! Listen today on LifeAudio.com or wherever you find your podcasts.
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Originally published Thursday, 26 September 2024.
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