When we make the decision to make a change in our lives it is often accompanied with both excitement and fear. For some, fear makes it difficult to appreciate the adventure that change brings.
The fear of change can be a tough thing to overcome. Oftentimes it halts action in our lives and causes us to miss incredible life opportunities.
What we really fear about change is being put in awkward situations that make us self-conscious. Fear of change is sourced from our desire to be comfortable.
Our family has gone through a lot of changes in the last two years, all stemming from a God inspired, yet unplanned, move from Central Ohio to Middle Tennessee. We went from being known and established in our community of twelve years, to unrecognized in a new state and culture.
In addition to our change of a physical move we have experienced many other uncomfortable changes. Changes in careers, loss of incomes, shift in lifestyle, and a new ministry. Our life goals and plans have transformed and evolved, too.
We find ourselves constantly in unchartered and uncomfortable territory. Sometimes it has been overwhelming, tiresome, and even unwelcomed.
Despite all the changes we have experienced in the last two years one thing has remained constant; God and his faithfulness.
There has been a huge increase in our trust of the Lord. Perhaps this is the biggest change of all that we have experienced — an increased spiritual confidence that unwaivers, even when presented with the most vexing of circumstances.
God’s faithfulness endures. It’s steadfast, mighty and a refuge. He always reassures with the miraculous each time circumstance attempts to consume us. He has not failed us, but established himself further as our ultimate provider, friend, and Lord.
A year into our move to Tennessee we became involved with an organization whose focus is to build community in apartment filled neighborhoods. With our two boys we left our beautiful, spacious, three-bedroom, home to live in a small two-bedroom apartment. We suddenly found ourselves living near a military base in the country, rather than the more familiar metropolitan area we are used to.
God is a mystery and his ways mysterious.
In this second move we have discovered that we are not alone in living by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It took God moving us to a smaller, but more genuine place to realize our deep need to be confirmed.
Our time in this unexpected community has brought us to a place where we have been extended approval and acceptance for our choice to live in a way that allows the Lord to work.
It has been refreshing and continues to motivate us to lean into the changes the Lord allows in our lives.
As missionaries with a parachurch organization God, has granted us the ability to love and minister to others in ways we never imagined. He has also encouraged us to bring in income to fund our ministry using our own creativity. One of the scariest, yet most satisfying changes our family has experienced is the change in belief of how our family provides for itself.
Although we do not yet receive any income from the work we have diligently been laboring over the last 9 months (me writing and my husband creating a board game), we have experienced joy and fulfillment like never before. We continue in earnest toward the dreams the Lord has given us with promises of victory on the horizon.
I admit some days having the assurance of a paycheck from a 9-5 job is missed. This has been the most challenging of changes of trust in the Lord. When we think he will zig, he zags — yet our family has had all our needs met.
This season has taught me patience. It has forced me to walk in humbleness. It has been the catalyst of new friendships and the death of old ones. It’s increased our expectation of his faithfulness in ways I never imagined and is permanently embedded in our hearts.
Now change is not so daunting. I do not fear the future.
In fact, I look forward to the changes ahead in hope — for they will be the arrival of promises made by my Father. Promises to love. Promises to confirm and be used for his glorious purposes. Promises to lift us up and abide. Promises to prosper us in all ways.
For God never breaks his promises — his faithfulness endures, forever.
Brianna George is a speaker, teacher, and missionary as well as a part-time writer and full-time encourager. She lives in Middle Tennessee with her husband of twelve years, two spicy little boys, and Bosa the boxer. More of her writing can be found at unveiledandrevealed.com.
Brianna, such a joy to read your story here on Mitzi’s blog! God is faithful, even in change – a reminder we all need. Especially when we are in the midst of the change, and sometimes don’t feel like it:) Blessings!
Thanks Kristine! He has proven over and over his faithfulness. Sometimes though I forget and need a reminder. Thankful for friends who come along side and support.:) Thanks so much for reading. 🙂