New Year, New Direction

A new year brings with it the possibility of new things.  For some, there may be a new job; for others, the arrival of a new baby.  Some may move to a new place; others may join a new church.  For some, the new year is the beginning of a new lifelong relationship; for others, 2016 will mark the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship.  For everyone, one thing is certain: we cannot predict or foresee everything that will happen in our lives within the next 12 months.

I’m not a person who particularly likes change.  I prefer sameness, predictability, and security.  It’s just the way I’m wired.  But I’ve had my share of changes in life; and as the new year dawns, I’m facing changes again.  By the end of this month, my husband and I will be living in a new community and trusting God to lead us to a new church and new friendships.  I am both reluctant and excited.

The way I’m wired makes me reluctant to leave a community I am comfortable in and a church with friends I love and ministry I enjoy.  But the part of me that has walked with God for many years is also excited to see what he has planned for me next.  You see, change is an inevitable part of both our physical life and our life of faith.  In fact, the Bible tells us that we are actually called to change (Matthew 18:3 and Romans 12:2) – which involves being willing to allow the Holy Spirit to renew, re-educate, and redirect our thinking so that the result is a transformation into Christlikeness (2 Corinthians 3:18).

When God called Abraham into a covenant relationship with Himself, he asked him to leave behind everything that was familiar and exchange it for something better – a close, personal walk with the God of the universe.  In Hebrews 11, Abraham is commended for his faith because he was willing to trust God more than he trusted himself and what he could see and control.  Following Abraham’s example involves embracing change and approaching it with hope.  Trusting God through changes means believing that what we can’t see could actually be better than what we can see – which is the essence of properly placed hope.

As I embark on a new year with a new journey, I want to follow Abraham’s example.  God has never failed me yet, and he’s not about to start now.  No matter what this road of changes looks like, the Emmanuel of Christmas – “God with us” – will be traveling with me and present every step of the way.  I can trust his sovereignty and know that he is always working in every situation for my growth and his glory.  Time to get more packing done . . .