VERY TUESDAY MY DAUGHTER AND I DROVE PAST THE LOCAL PAINT STORE, watching the mural that was being painted on the side of the building take shape. After months of hard work, the artists completed a beautiful mural. Every Tuesday after that, we admired the finished project.
Then one day a tornado ripped through town and destroyed the paint store, leaving it a pile of rubble. In a moment—in the blink of an eye—months of hard work was destroyed. I shuddered at the sight when we saw it. My daughter cried.
Changes happen in our lives, and often they come suddenly and unexpectedly. I’ve found that only by trusting God’s sovereignty and His ultimate plan for my life can I alleviate fear of those coming changes.
Many times changes are glorious! After 10 years of praying for a child, of battling infertility and fear and doubt and envy, a phone call announced our daughter’s arrival through adoption. In the blink of an eye God placed Michelle into our lives, and in that moment our lives changed forever.
Sometimes, however, change can be challenging and frightening. A friend of mine complained how her husband hadn’t felt well for two months but had put off going to the doctor. When breathing troubles sent him to the emergency room, the diagnosis hit them hard: lung cancer that had already spread to the brain. In the blink of an eye their lives were changed forever.
Change happens, and whether it’s big or small, it always affects us. When the change is negative, how do we respond? Do we turn to God for help, strength, and comfort? Or do we turn away in anger and hold on to fear and confusion?
In the blink of an eye Jesus’ disciples were scattered, their Master imprisoned, and their world changed forever. In the blink of an eye Jonah found himself in the belly of a big fish. In the blink of an eye Eve accepted Satan’s words and invited Adam to share in her disobedience. In the blink of an eye a marriage is sealed, a child is born, a loved one dies, a job is gained or lost . . .
Life will inevitably change, sometimes for the better and sometimes in ways we don’t want. But through it all God promises to be at our side.
So how can we survive change? The answer is prayer. Pray for strength, understanding, and wisdom. Pray that God will bring people and situations into your life to help you cope with the changes and overcome the challenges.
Our first instinct is to worry and to scramble for a way out. But God has a plan, and if we aren’t open to His guidance, our reactions might keep us from acting on His best plan.
When my husband, Richard, lost his third job in five years because of layoffs, we couldn’t understand why God would allow this to happen. Then we “accidentally” learned of a local school district job fair, which was followed by an unplanned conversation with a school principal. In the blink of an eye Richard’s dream of teaching English as a Second Language was realized. God had a marvelous plan; He was only waiting for us to put away our fear and act.
When life suddenly changes, God does not leave us alone. Instead, He surrounds us with hope.
Michelle and I watched as workers rebuilt the paint store and artists began creating another mural. Each week we drove past the store and saw the mural come to life again. It was different, but just as beautiful as it progressed from sketches to a painting.
So it is with us. With each change in our lives we watch God’s plan for us develop, layer by layer, until we evolve into a beautiful painting of His love and grace.
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Kathryn Lay, a full-time writer and author, lives in Texas with her family. This article was published February 18, 2010.
