Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT says For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Change is constant. Change is a relentless and constant force in life — whether it is change we choose or change we do not choose. “Change is good” is a popular saying. One can debate that statement’s accuracy, but in the Christian worldview all change is ultimately for the good. Romans 8:28 says And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Anyone that has been around me very long at all knows that I embrace change. Some say that they are uncomfortable with change but the reality is that change is inevitable. We all are changing daily as we age. We all live in it daily in the world. The only way to avoid change is to die…..not very promising or encouraging, but very true. We were all chosen by God for purpose and if it were not for change I would still be the lost sinner I once was. Because of change, I was saved, healed, delivered and called to serve the One that never changes.
Jeremiah 1:5 Amplified, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. I like this scripture in the Amplified translation. You and I are instruments, approved by God, for an appointed purpose. We are called to do and accomplish the will of the Father.
Change involves growing. I remember my son going through growing pains when he was younger. He would wake up in the middle of the night in pain because his body was changing, growing and he was becoming a man. I tell people that story when they see my son standing next to me and realize the obvious – he is taller than me. It seemed like one night as I tucked him in, I looked down at him and he said good night with a squeaky voice and the very next morning, I see this giant walk through the house, look down at me and say, “Good morning, Dad.” He did not want to go through the pain at that time, but now that he is over 6 feet tall, he would not have it any other way.
Another saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Indeed, at times, change can feel like death. Familiar routines and surroundings provide at least the illusion of constancy and permanence in an ever-changing world. When faced with impending change, remind yourself of previous changes that you have handled successfully. You may think you do not have the strength to deal with it, but you do. Tie a knot and hang on. Eventually, it will get easier.
When circumstances demand that you leave behind an old season for a new one, it may be hard to imagine that you will ever feel “grounded” again, but you will. As difficult as change is, it is also an opportunity to grow — in relationships, in self-confidence and in your faith, allowing God to uphold you when your own strength is not enough. Ultimately, we choose how we will handle change — with resistance and negativity, or with grace and hope. Your attitude is key. When big changes come — and they surely will — arm yourself with this truth: Philippians 4:13 that you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you.
Change is evolution. Evolution by definition is a process of continuous change from lower, simpler, or worse to a higher, more complex or better state. Colossians 2:18-19 says Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.
Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland has evolved from a small 6 bed short-term crisis center to a long-term center for 11 women. As Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland is starting this new season, we are growing and evolving into the program that God designed for us to become.
Change is an experience. The word CHANGE is the same Hebrew word for TRANSFORM, which means to change in composition, structure, appearance, character, or condition. Romans 12:2 NLT says Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We have transformed into the program we are today because we did not conform, but instead allowed God to transform us into the image He had for us. It is a new season of growing, evolving, and experiencing CHANGE! This change will allow us to bring in a greater harvest. John 4:38 – I sent you to harvest where you didn’t plant; others had already done the work, and now you will get to gather the harvest.
We will need your continued prayers and financial support both now and well into the future to do and accomplish the vision that God has placed in our hearts for Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland. Your giving is helping to transform lives of those struggling with addiction both here locally and beyond. Please stay connected through our Facebook page and www.TeenChallengeUC.org. Feel free to contact me at 888-688-0470 or at tim@teenchallengeuc.org.
God bless,
Pastor Tim McLauchlin