Things are changing.  Summer is changing into fall.  Days at the beach are changing into days in the classroom.  Some of you are experiencing major life changes as you are leaving home and going to college, or moving from one town to the next.  Parents are losing jobs, friends are making new friends, and new interests are leading you in new directions.  Change can be good, but that does not mean it is easy to handle.

How do you handle change?  Are you the type to run and hide?  Do you embrace change head first?  What does the bible teach us about change?

Let’s take a look at Jesus’ disciples, a group who experienced a lot of change.

Before Jesus came along the disciples had their lives planned out.  Peter, Andrew, James and John were going to become fishermen like their fathers (Luke 5).   Matthew was leading the life of a tax collector (Matthew 9).  Jesus walked into their lives, told them to leave behind their current life plan and follow Him (Matthew 4:18-22).  Think about how big of an adjustment a career change is.

Jesus spent 3 years with his disciples, never once keeping the same schedule.  They experienced healing of the sick one day (Matthew 4:23-25) and walking on water the next (John 6:15-24). Miracle after miracle had to have changed their way of thinking.

After 3 years of being with Jesus and despite His many warnings, the disciples were not ready for the biggest change to their ministry, the death of Christ.  Needless to say the disciples did not handle this change very well.  Peter denied ever knowing Christ (Luke 22:54-62).  The disciples stayed locked in a room, afraid to go outside.  Afraid of the changes.  Afraid for their lives (John 20:19-31).

Then after Jesus appears to the disciples, assures them that good changes are coming, they sit around waiting (Acts 1 & 2).  Finally once again God calls them to leave their way of life and to minister all over the world (read the book of Acts).

Talk about change.  In the course of 3 years the disciple experienced more change then most of us experience in a life time.  Some of the changes were easy and some were difficult but one thing reminds, God was faithful.  He did not change their lives and then walk away.

Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

^7-8Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself. (Hebrews 13:5-8 The Message)

How are you dealing with change? Are you excited to school to start or are you dreading the change in your schedule?  Are you able to get up in the morning, knowing your best friend is starting a new school or are you laying in bed devastated he/she won’t be there on the first day?

Change is not easy but we can be reassured the same God that spoke to us at camp this summer is there to comfort us as we go to a new school.  The same God that invested in the lives of the disciples is investing in our lives today.

Things are changing but we can cling to God for stability.