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Read: Matthew 6:25-34; Genesis 1:31
Change… it seems to be one of the few constants in our daily existence, along with “death and taxes.” No matter how hard we try, change is bound to creep into even the most ingrained rut in which we might find ourselves. Even if we were to spend our days confined to a bed or chair due to a disease or illness, each and every day will provide us with the potential of some novel occasion, thought, or feeling that we can use to either enrich or diminish the quality of our life.
Psychology tells us that change can be a significant source of stress in our lives. Typically, when we think of stress, we think of things that are usually negative in connotation. It is easy to think of stress in this negative light. Many of us can all too easily relate to the negative stress that comes with the life events of divorce, the death of a loved one, a change of jobs, or moving to a new home.
Still, we need to bear in mind that stress that comes with change is not all bad. That feeling that helps us to adapt to a new environment, that sharpens our senses and awareness, is stress. Those “butterflies” that we feel as we do something new is stress. That sense of willingness and determination to step into the unknown is stress. These are positive forms of stress. They help us to feel more connected to world around us and help us feel more alive. However, like negative stress, they are best taken in moderation because, like any intense activity, they will eventually lead to physical and mental exhaustion if you do not allow time for rest.
Thus, the trick to thriving (not just surviving) in a world of change and stress is to find a balance between the stressors (positive and negative) in our lives and the things that feed and nurture us: body, mind, and soul.
A good place to start is to be honest with yourself. Be your own best friend. When the events of life cause sorrow or harm, take time to reflect and mourn. Seek out others in your community for support and nurture. Do not try to weather the storm alone.
When you have something special happen, take time to celebrate and praise God. Enjoy the moment and remember who your Source is. You are a member of the Body of Christ. Being one member in a tremendously vast creation allows us an equally vast pool of resources to call upon in our time of need, a pool in which we become a part of when others are in need.
Christ taught us not to fret about tomorrow. Likewise, we are well served by the idea that we need not be driven by the changes and stress of life. Rather, remember that such things are a natural course of our existence. We can choose how we are going to interact with those changes and allow the accompanying stress to serve us, all the while knowing full well that God is in the very midst of that change and stress to bring loving-kindness and goodness out of what might otherwise have been considered less than favorable.
Prayer: Creator God, thank You for the life opportunities You offer to us. While we face stress and change throughout our lives, we know that You are in the midst of whatever happens to us. You have called Your creation “good,” and we rest in Your loving-kindness and goodness. Amen.
Jim Maas
Itinerant Minister
Member of West Alameda
Community Baptist Church
Lakewood, CO
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