Making Healthy Changes

Before exploring how to make healthy changes in our lives, let's look at what keeps us from changing especially when things or circumstances are beyond our control. Making a change can produce fear of the unknown. What does the the other side of a change look like in our lives? Maybe things will be worse, but maybe things will get better! Another reason we may not want to change is because the risk of change seems greater than the change itself. Perhaps we might rationalize that taking an unknown risk could be hazardous to our physical, emotional, mental or spiritual being.

A third reason could be that we find comfort in keeping things status quo - don't rock the boat because we have always done things this way and it is more familiar.

Here are three healthy responses to change:

1. Ask God to help you let go and accept that He is in control because of His sovereignty over all people and things.  He is the One who allows change to come into our lives.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

2. Seek practical and realistic ways you can work with the change instead of going against the change. You don’t have to like the change that is happening but the sooner you accept the change, the easier it becomes to work with the change.

3. Look for resources around you that will be helpful: the church , support groups, books, web sites, agencies.

Change does not come easy to anyone but the sooner we realize that everything is under God's control and sovereignty, then we can be more open to the changes that will inevitably come into all of our lives.