When Change Is Hard

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8 ESV)

The day before we left on this year’s summer vacation, we made an offer on our dream house. Our offer was accepted the next day, and we signed a contract, paid our option fee, and wired our earnest money over the phone from a state away. We were excited about the move but anxious about the work ahead.

As soon as we returned home from our trip, we hit the ground running on repairs, updates, paint touch-ups, mowing, edging, deep cleaning, power washing, decluttering, and staging our current house so we could list it for sale.

In a mere six days’ time—which included four trips to the hardware store, three trips to the Goodwill donation center, two trips to the dumpster, one Lowe’s appliance delivery, one cleaning crew visit, and one handyman visit—our home of almost eight years was finally ready to list.

Once the work was finished and the house was officially on the market, my emotions hit me like a ton of bricks. I was sad and scared to leave my comfort zone and worried about the future.

Were we doing the right thing in buying a new house? Could we really leave the house where we brought home both of our babies and grieved the loss of my mom, stepmom, and grandfather? Could we give up our spacious deck and gorgeous hillside view?

Were the new house and backyard really that much better than what we already had? Would we grow to love our new neighbors as much as we love the family who lives at the end of our current street? Would our girls have as much fun at the new house as they did now? Would they like their new school bus driver and seatmates as much as they did here?

I knew the answer to most of those questions was probably “yes,” but my fear of the unknown persisted.

Change is hard.

Even though we were moving only five minutes away from our current home, I felt a bit like Riley in Pixar’s Inside Out. I was incredibly nervous about the future and grieving the loss of the comfortable, worn-in place our family was giving up for something new. But unlike Riley and my own children, this isn’t the first time I’ve packed up and moved from one house to another. This isn’t even the first time my husband and I have moved as a couple. Our new house is the third home we’ve bought together in the last twelve years.

I remember quite well my feelings of sadness over leaving our beloved next-door neighbors at our first house, where we lived for four years. They had become like family, and we still keep in touch with them. Yet we made countless wonderful, new friends and many beautiful memories after our move. God blessed us richly time and time again in our new home, and we trust him to do the same at our newest house in the years ahead. No matter where we are, God is always good to us.

We may move, but he stays the same. Through every change and challenge we experience, he remains unchanged and unchallenged. God is steadfast and ever faithful to provide. He never moves.

When change is hard, God is constant. His promises are heaven-backed guarantees.

Dear Father, thank you for being our only true constant in a neverending sea of change. Thank you for lighting our path and steadying our boat in the storm of life’s unknowns. Please help us remember that your blessings and protection never end, no matter where we are or what is happening around us. Please help us depend more fully on you through every change and uncertainty we face. Amen.

Scripture for Reflection

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17 ESV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9 ESV)

Reach for More

Are you terrified of change or afraid to leave your comfort zone and step out in faith? Ask God to grant you courage and help you overcome your fear of the unknown. Ask him to help you keep moving forward in a scary season of transition. New blessings await.

Lauren Flake writes about her journey as a wife, mom to two little girls and Alzheimer’s daughter in her native Austin, Texas, at For the Love of Dixie. Her first book, Where Did My Sweet Grandma Go? was published in 2016. She thrives on green tea, Tex-Mex, and all things turquoise.

Photograph © Tierra Mallorca, used with permission