All change!
by Jill Southern
How do we approach change? I often wonder what it was really like for the people of God in the Old Testament when the pillar of cloud moved. I imagine Moses’ wife Zipporah saying, “Just when I have my tent finally sorted and my kitchen set up and my children’s beds in a neat row – off we all go again following that cloud!”
We need to be open to the changes that God leads us into – for if they are His changes, they are always God’s best for us. The pace of modern life is so fast these days, people are far more mobile and move house more often than they used to.
If we respond to change in the right way it’s good for us. It keeps us interested and motivated and stops us from becoming stale and boring. Life becomes fuller and richer when new challenges are welcomed. We can sometimes respond to change in a wrong way with frantic activity and deep anxiety, which is damaging to our health and can overwhelm us. We shouldn’t just change for the sake of change. To do so would simply be disruptive for no reason.
We need to develop the right spiritual attitude towards the movements of God and not be threatened by them – then we will be refreshing people to be around! We should be tough, strong, and spiritually mature enough to be able to stand for God in the changing and challenging scenes of life.
We shouldn’t be put off by a change of plan, a change of job, a change in the programme or a change of leader. Change is something each of us needs to grasp a hold of. Change shouldn’t rock our security, because God has provided and will continue to provide all the stability we need, even through the change.
We need to trust Him with our changed circumstances and then we need to rest in Him, and to be content in Him and embrace His change in our lives.
Prayer: Father, help me in the changing circumstances of my life to stand complete in You. Help me to trust You and to move when You move. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jill Southern is the founder of Ellel Ministries Pierrepont and directed the work for 21 years. She has recently stood down from that role but still teaches on the NETS programme and has the passion to train and equip God`s people to fully walk in their destiny and calling. She is the Regional Director for Ellel Ministries International in South East Asia and China and is also on the Executive Leadership of the ministry.
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