Accepting the Pain of Change - iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - August 19, 2024
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
The change I had to face after my mom passed was life-altering, to say the very least. It changed my life in a negative way because I no longer had my mom, I lost all direction for my life, and I felt things would only get worse with time. While life has gotten worse with this change, there have also been many wonderful things to happen. For one, I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, which is by far the greatest blessing of all.
I lost my mom, but I gained Christ.
I love my mom, and I always will, but I’m thankful she doesn’t have to face the evils of this world anymore. My mom fought hard and did her best, yet in the end, death still came for her, but this was a catalyst to change my life. My nonprofit professor used to tell me we could see change in two ways: we could see it as a positive change or we could see it as a time to make some changes ourselves. Within his logic, there was no room for negative change unless we allowed it to be.
In some ways, I agree with my nonprofit professor, and in other ways, it’s hard to see anything positive. Challenging my pessimism, I have tried to look for the good, but often, the only thing that prevails as a positive change after my mom’s death is knowing Jesus, as mentioned above. However, I cannot help but be selfish and wish my mom was still here. I'm human after all. She didn’t get to see me graduate college, get my first car, or start a writing career.
Sadly, many of us will never see these great strides in our loved ones' lives either. Our lives are fleeting (James 4:14). We are not promised tomorrow, which is why we need to live each day to the glory of God. With the time we have been given, we need to truly live, serve God, and make the most of every opportunity. Even when we face change, we must continue living.
As someone who has tried to stop living on numerous occasions, I don’t recommend it. Shutting yourself out from the world and isolating yourself will only make you feel worse. God doesn’t want us to do this because it will not help us embrace change, nor will it help us embrace life. Instead, it will cause us to sink deeper into darkness, pain, and depression.
Rather than rejecting change, we have to embrace it. There will be pain sometimes, but we have to trust God. We have control over very little in our lives and we need to choose to trust the One who controls all things—for good. He can bring good even out of the most tragic situations. Since we live in a fallen world, there will be endless days of pain, heartache, and tears. However, when we look to God, we see healing, comfort, and joy. It is up to us to choose to look to Him even in the face of pain.
The Bible tells us, “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18). As the Apostle Paul tells us, our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us. Cling to this hope as you are accepting the pain that comes with change. This pain you are currently experiencing is not worth comparing to the glory that you will see in heaven.
As we are facing this change and the associated pain, we can have hope in God. These present sufferings will end, and we will enter into glory. God works all things out for our good, and there is no reason to doubt Him (Romans 8:28). Whenever we face changes, we must remember that God has great things in store for us that might not be realized until we go through this change. Although there might be pain, there will also be glory.
Lean into this truth when times are hard. Most of us don’t like change, and God knows this. Allow Him to help you walk through this time, and He will bring you comfort. None of us can avoid all changes; therefore, it is best to start accepting change now with the help of God. In time, we will be able to face change with confidence because we know the glory that awaits us in the Lord.
Dear God, please help me to accept the pain of change. I’m currently going through a change and its associated pain, troubles, and struggles. Please help me walk through this time peacefully with Your help. I trust You. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Jantanee Rungpranomkorn
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If you've been feeling tired, overwhelmed, depleted, or just quietly wondering where God is in the middle of a very full life — this episode is for you. And honestly? It might be for me too, because I'm recording this in one of those seasons myself.
Today we're doing something a little different. Instead of going deep in a passage, we're talking about what to do when deep feels like too much — when you need less, not more. Specifically, I'm walking you through one of my favorite practices for weary seasons: handwriting scripture.
Not typing it. Not scrolling past it. Actually writing it out, slowly, in your own hand — because something happens in your brain when you do that. The words land differently. They go deeper. And over time, they become part of that personal library of God's voice that the Holy Spirit can pull from when you need it most. That's what Psalm 119:11 means when it says I have hidden your word in my heart — it's scripture moving into your long-term memory, where it lives and stays even when you haven't opened your Bible in weeks.
I'm sharing the five verses I wrote out for myself today — and why each one hit me fresh even though I've known some of them for years. This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to follow the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
