WHY IS CHANGE SO HARD?

“I am the LORD, and I do not change…” – Malachi 3:6

Change is hard because you often exchange the known for the unknown. Sometimes, the unknown is exciting, like a promotion, an anticipated birth, or the realization that you seem to fit in well in your small group. But sometimes, change is anything but exciting. Whether we like it or not, living this life involves change. Relationships, jobs, and circumstances change, and we change along with them.

The bottom line is life is change. The longer you live, the more you know that the only thing constant in this life is change. Whether our changes seem hard or make us happy, change teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain and temporary. Nothing is unchangeable.  Or is it. Malachi 3:6 tells us that God does not change. In Psalm 102:27, the psalmist declares, “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end” (NASB).

This means that God’s power, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are unchangeable, and He cannot learn, forget, or be anything other than perfectly holy. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God is a constant and dependable anchor whether we move homes, change jobs, or experience relational, physical, or emotional changes.

Because God never changes, His word never changes. All that He has said about himself remains true forever. Everything He has told us about why and how the world came to be, what’s wrong with the world, and about what He has done to save the world will never change. No matter what changes or how hard we face, God’s word remains firmly fixed. “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89 ESV). “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.” (Matthew 24:35).

And because His word never changes, His promises for us remain true: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6). “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

If we accept that change is a natural part of life, we can more easily learn what we need to do to cope with it. But God reminds us that He has our steps prepared. He promises never to fail or forsake us, and I think He helps us see change in its proper perspective. Solomon, in the Old Testament, said there was a time for everything under the sun. Change is less unsettling when we can see the big picture and not just the small universe of our lives. God has promised to lead us in the right way so we can learn to trust Him. We can entrust Him with even the most difficult changes.

Ultimately, while change can be challenging, we can grow in our faith when we learn to embrace it. When we trust God’s plan, He transforms us daily as His followers. So, as you experience change in the upcoming year, remember this truth.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are some of the hardest changes you have to make? What did you learn from it? How did you change?
2. Habits don’t happen overnight; they come about slowly, layer upon layer. At the start we consciously do a task, but as we do it over and over it becomes automatic, without thinking about it. Agree or disagree and why?