29 July 2008

Change
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Change. Never an embraced concept for me. Change generally occurs in my life despite my great efforts to keep it from happening.

Comfortable. Now, that's more my style. Familiar. Routine. Unchanging. Yeah, comfortable. That's much better.

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Slowness to change usually means fear of the new. ~Philip Crosby

But, that's just not how life works is it? Life is constantly pushing and pulling you in all sorts of new directions.
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And, if you're a Christian, our God is definitely One who encourages growth - most often through change. UGH! Not easy for an old stick-in-the-mud like me.
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However, I can say that most every time I look back on a big change in my life - I can see it was ultimately for the best. And I'm generally better and stronger for it.

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There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. ~Nelson Mandela
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So, why am I still so resistent to any kind of change? Why can't I just go with the flow? or even hope for something better? Why am I so determined to camp out right where I am? or even desire to go back to where I was? knowing that I'm on a path to better things?
In the Priscilla Shirer study I'm doing, she mentioned Isaiah 43:18-19~
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"Forget about what's happened. Don't keep going over old history. Be alert. Be present. (I keep thinking: must be present to win!) I'm about to do something brand new! It's bursting out - don't you see it?!?"
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She continues on to say: "The Lord wants to do something new in your life. What He has accomplished in your life has been extraordinary, but He doesn't want you to cling to it anymore. He has something new for you!"
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And, I just keep going back to a post that my friend, Jen Rinko had on her blog months ago that has stuck with me. I hope she doesn't mind me using it, but it was the words to the song "Painting Pictures of Egypt" by Sara Groves. I wish I could find it on the playlist, but didn't find it, so I'll share the lyrics with you here:
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I don't want to leave here; I don't want to stay
It feels like pinching to me either way
The places I long for the most; and the places where I've been
They are calling after me like a long lost friend
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It's not about losing faith; it's not about trust
It's all about comfortable; when you move so much
The place I was wasn't perfect; but I had found a way to live
It wasn't milk or honey; but then neither is this
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I've been painting pictures of Egypt; leaving out what it lacked
The future seems so hard; and I want to go back
But, the places that used to fit me; cannot hold the things I've learned
And those roads closed off to me; while my back was turned
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The past is so tangible; I know it all by heart
Familiar things are never easy to discard
I was dying for some freedom; but now I hesitate to go
Caught between the promise; and the things I know
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If it comes too quick I may not recognize it-
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
If it comes too quick I may not recognize it-
Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?
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Wow! I mean, if I had the talent, those would've been the very words my heart would pen. It is everything I am feeling right now. God is obviously trying to get me to move out of my beloved 'comfort zone'. I just don't know why I must always make Him drag me, heels dug in, kicking and screaming every time??
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This morning, on the radio: "Don't get Comfortable" by Brandon Heath. (Point taken... thanks. And sorry, they don't have that on the playlist either... maybe I'll post those lyrics next time - just for good measure.) : )

3 comments:

Luanne said...

Change is hard for me, too. This quote from the No Other God's study really spoke to me as my problem with change means I may have to leave things behind that I am clinging to. "Leaving our false gods requires faith. We have to believe that where God wants to take us will be better than what we're clinging to, even if we can't imagine it." So, for me, I need to remind myself that my God is a good, loving God that will turn all things for good--Rom. 8:28.

Anyways--have a good day--lots of blue sky in Wisconsin!

Anonymous said...

Well said, Jess! For me, it seems like this year has been nothing but change. Dealing with one change after another, and rolling with those changes, knowing there's no stopping or going back has led me to rely on God more than ever. I've found myself saying "Lord, You're going to have to sustain me, because there's no way I'm getting throught this on my own." I simply don't know how people without faith get by. I sure couldn't do it otherwise.

Michele said...

Wow! Great posts, Jess. This one (and the songs) really spoke to me!

"It's easier to complain than to change." Hal Runkel
I can't stop thinking about this quote.