When Change Happens...

I once heard John Maxwell claim, “There are three times when people change: when they hurt enough they have to, when they learn enough they want to, and when they are given enough that they are able to!” That claim resonated in my soul and I immediately thought of examples of each change catalyst in my own life and the lives of those I love. It seems that God uses a variety of circumstances to draw us to his heart.

I learned a long time ago that you cannot avoid all the “train wrecks” of life, but that you can do your best to be prepared for them before they happen. This seems to be the basis of the teaching of Jesus – “Repent (change your mind!), for the kingdom of God is at hand” he said at the beginning of his ministry. The best definition I have heard of repentance is “a change of mind that leads to a changed life.” Those seeking spiritual maturity will constantly “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” which leads to refusing to be conformed to the image of the world and embracing the will of God for their lives.  

Recently I was reading “Maximum Faith” by George Barna and he stated, “Half of the people who get serious about cooperating with God in the transformation process were motivated by experiencing a major tragedy: a life-threatening or debilitating illness or injury, a hotly-contested divorce, the prolonged and painful death of a very close loved one, a bankruptcy or business failure, or the loss of one’s material possessions in a disaster… the other half who move forward on the journey were fortunate or wise enough to enter the stage of brokenness without a precipitating tragedy.”  

I have noticed that tragedy makes people either bitter or better. Tragedy pushes us towards God or pulls us away from God, with the difference seeming to be the way we were leaning when tragedy struck. There seem to be few who are left unchanged by tragedy.   

2020 has been a year of “train wrecks” in many ways. It is also proving to be a year of great opportunity for spiritual growth. Whether the catalyst for change in your life has been a burning desire for spiritual growth or experiencing a precipitating tragedy, I hope that you will take the opportunity for change that is before you. On the other side of change can be the full and abundant life that Jesus promised!     

If you desire company on your road to change, I would be honored to walk with you.