Change hurts
A few weeks ago we celebrated the 90th birthday of an elderly aunt with a family get together. It was a time of celebration and merriment, thoroughly enjoyed by all. The very next day we received tragic news of the death of our youngest daughter’s boyfriend. One day we were laughing and joking and reminiscing on happy memories, the next day we were torn apart and sobbing with pain and sorrow that felt like it would rip our hearts in two. Life can change like that, in an instant, with no warning and no time to prepare. And the questions? They are endless ...
It reminded me of Jesus’ last week here on earth. As He approached Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, the people were cheering and shouting ‘hosanna’ as He rode through the streets. The longed-for deliverer had arrived. It was a time for celebration. One week later many of the same people were shouting ‘crucify Him’ and He was hung on a cross and left to die in agony. His friends and family must have felt their hearts would break apart. People jeered rather than cheered. How things can change in an instant. How people can change in a moment. And the questions? I’m sure there were plenty...
Change hurts, sometimes we have time to prepare, sometimes we don’t. It means that something or someone has been lost and that isn’t easy to bear. But change is inevitable. It is how we deal with it that is the real challenge. We need time to grieve the change. We need time to process and become accustomed to the change and the loss of what was. We need time to search for answers to the questions. Sometimes we may have to settle that our questions may not be answered, or at least not in the way we would like them to be. We need time to resolve the memories of the past before we can move on in the future.
We can undergo many changes in life and our faith may be challenged to the point where we ask if God really does exist. At the end of the day, we might have to make a choice. We can either choose to walk away or choose to stay with our faith and persevere. Perhaps the greatest challenge would be to stay and face the pain of the situation.
It reminded me of Jesus’ last week here on earth. As He approached Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, the people were cheering and shouting ‘hosanna’ as He rode through the streets. The longed-for deliverer had arrived. It was a time for celebration. One week later many of the same people were shouting ‘crucify Him’ and He was hung on a cross and left to die in agony. His friends and family must have felt their hearts would break apart. People jeered rather than cheered. How things can change in an instant. How people can change in a moment. And the questions? I’m sure there were plenty...
Change hurts, sometimes we have time to prepare, sometimes we don’t. It means that something or someone has been lost and that isn’t easy to bear. But change is inevitable. It is how we deal with it that is the real challenge. We need time to grieve the change. We need time to process and become accustomed to the change and the loss of what was. We need time to search for answers to the questions. Sometimes we may have to settle that our questions may not be answered, or at least not in the way we would like them to be. We need time to resolve the memories of the past before we can move on in the future.
We can undergo many changes in life and our faith may be challenged to the point where we ask if God really does exist. At the end of the day, we might have to make a choice. We can either choose to walk away or choose to stay with our faith and persevere. Perhaps the greatest challenge would be to stay and face the pain of the situation.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
(James 1:2-4 NIV)
(James 1:2-4 NIV)
Jenny Basey-Fisher
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