CHANGE

When I think if seasons the first word that comes to my mind is.......
     That one word has the ability to prick ever nerve and amp up my fighting instincts. For years Change has been a terrifying thing. I have 4 younger siblings with another on the way! Everything is changing with that many people. I just had one of them move into my bedroom, which I've always had to myself. That equals Unwelcome Change.

     So why this phobia of things changing? For me, it was because I didn't like what happened after change. I didn't like moving away from my best friend. I didn't like having another person in my room. I didn't like having plans cancelled. I really didn't like the change growing up brought along with it. That is all Unwelcome Change. Change always pushed me out of my comfort zone. It forced me to step into the area of life that I didn't want to explore. I once read that the 3 C's in life are Choice, Chance, and Change. You must make the Choice, to take the Chance, if you want anything to Change.
But for me, I didn't want anything to change. I was perfectly happy living life the way I saw fit.
                                                     That all changed really fast.

     My dad was offered a position at a University which is nearly 6 hours from where I live now. That would mean we might be moving WAY away from everything that was comfortable and familiar. I did NOT want that. My dad also was offered a position where we lived. Both of the offers were great! So which one would we decide on. I completely voted against moving. And then God stepped in, like He always does. He started knocking on my mind and getting my attention. I already knew arguing with Him never does any good. So I listened. He made me realize that He knows what's going to happen and that He loves me. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "" 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 a hope and a future.""
I have this verse painted on my wall in huge letters. And it was now staring me in the face.
     My whole life I've heard of people praying and having God give them peace about the decision and I never quiet got it. You could say I doubted. I was skeptical and wanted proof. But when I came before God, I wasn't wanting proof of His plans. I wanted peace. I wanted to know where I should be go. I prayed God would change my heart to go where He wanted. The change wasn't instant. But it came and I was soon game-on for moving. The Change is still hard. I will miss everybody I know and my family members who live here. But I trust that whatever God has up His sleeve, is far better than I can imagine.
   And no matter what happens I now that,
He will always have my back if I totally surrender and trust His plans. Nobody said it was easy, but at least I have a helping hand to pull me out of the deep water. By placing yourself in the hands of God, you are allowing Him to use you for the Plan that only He can see. God created us and everything else. Shouldn't we trust He knows what He's doing, even if it seems scary or hard? Looking back I've realized that the hard changes in my life have made me into something so much better. With so many siblings there's never a dull moment, and I've learned a lot of valuable skills I will need when I'm a mom. Having my sister in my room has actually been really good for me because I now hang out with her a lot more. Moving away from my friend....OK that one is still hard. But who knows what would have happened if I had stayed. God doesn't always take us away for something better, but to prevent something worse. Some of the plans we've had to change have resulted in something so much better than I knew of. Through the change of growing up I've had to make a lot of important choices that have led me to depend on God more. Those are all really good things! A diamond has to be heated and put under an insane amount of pressure before it finally can be chipped and shaped in the glittering jewel for all to see.