The Changing Times: How to Face Unwanted Change without Fear

I was known as the queen of tradition. Well, my siblings would probably say I was more of a stickler for tradition.

As we grew old enough to question traditions, my siblings started to want to change some of our long-established modes of doing things. It began with Christmas traditions—the most sacred of all. Suddenly, my siblings wanted to make a change here and another change there.

I fought against those changes with all I had in me.

My siblings thought I was too hung up on tradition. But what they never seemed to understand was that I wasn’t fighting to uphold tradition for its own sake. I stood between them and those traditions because I loved those traditions.

In my mind, the way in which we celebrated Christmas and other elements of our lives that they wanted to change were already perfect. Any change to something perfect would necessarily be negative, or at least inferior to the long-standing tradition.

As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand that not all change is so unpleasant. There are some things in my life that I hope will change, that I eagerly anticipate will change some day. But these are areas where I know the change will be an improvement.

There are still aspects of my life where I dread change. I’m know I’m not alone in this. Most of us, if we have something precious in our lives, don’t welcome a change that will take that treasured thing from us.

Perhaps you have a child, sibling, or grandchild you’ll have to see move away from home or grow into someone you don’t recognize. Maybe you’re about to lose your job. You may have to move or face a change that breaks up your happy family or ends a special tradition. You may face divorce, illness, or death.

You may be quarantined right now because of the COVID-19 scare, or you may live in a city where people’s panic is creating more problems than the virus itself.

These are the changes we never want to see happen. These are the changes we fear.

Not far into this year of 2020, I’ve already experienced several unwanted changes. And, as I write this post, I see on the horizon more unpleasant changes in my future.

My tendency is to let anxiety and fear cluster in my heart as I anticipate those negative changes. As I brace to encounter them around the next corner.

The scary thing is that I know they’ll be there. Change is inevitable. Everything in life changes.

Or does it?

Reading through Hebrews, I encountered this astonishing statement—a promise to cling to:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8

Can you imagine? Something good that will never change! And not just something good, but the ultimate good—our Savior, Protector, Friend, Brother, Priest, Redeemer.

The fulfillment of every desire of our hearts, of everything we will ever need in this life and for all eternity will never change.

…for he has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” –  Hebrews 13:5

The God who said these words will never change, so His promise will never expire or fail. For a person like me who fears difficult changes, this promise—this fact—is incredible.

If we can grasp this truth, we can face any change that comes our way without fear, no matter how negative the change may be. Our powerful and loving Father promises to always be with us, giving us strength to face what we must.

If you don’t feel you have the strength to handle the latest negative change in your life, or it seems like everything you held dear has been changed for the worse, remember that it’s not true that everything changes.

The best thing in life will never change. He’s right there with you, unchanging, forever.

Have you had to face a difficult change in your life? Do you worry about the next change that might come? Please join the conversation!

Photos by Jens Kreuter, Ross Findon, and Jack Cohen on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.