ALTO REFORMED CHURCH
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission >
      • Missionaries
    • Our History
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Staff & Leaders
    • Our Policies
  • Get involved
    • Grow and Connect >
      • Men's Ministry
      • Women's Ministries
      • Youth Group
    • Discover Your Strengths
    • Prayer Ministries
    • Church Directory
  • Messages
    • Jesus
    • Christmas 2022
    • It Starts at Home
    • Hope Lives Here
    • Re-forming Me
    • Gabriel
    • Tough Questions
    • AMEN Archives
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Blog

Change Stinks

8/1/2019

1 Comment

 
Picture
By Pastor Kevin Van Wyk
​With all the baseball lately and using cash at concessions, I’ve undoubtedly ended up with some change. Personally, carrying a pocket full of change around is rather annoying, but that’s not the change I’m talking about. 
 
Doug left this morning. Our Equipping Adults Pastor is gone. His office is empty. A good confidant and friend will no longer help me process life and ministry every Tuesday morning. No more shared preaching. No more sharing the load of visiting and counseling others. Change stinks.
 
I can see how this change will be good for Doug and his family. It makes sense to get an MDiv. Yet, I struggle to see how this is good for us, particularly me. I’ll miss the help and friendship. Change stinks. At least that’s how it feels. 
 
What I know from Paul is “that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) God had similar words for Jeremiah… “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11) Yet, for the Christians in Rome and the Israelites with Jeremiah, life was not so good. Persecution and suffering were the new norm. Change had been bitter and difficult.
 
Somehow in the midst of difficult situations and unwanted changes God is still at work doing something good. Consider Marla’s perspective in her Facebook post below. She’s been battling cancer for just over a month, life is completely upside down, yet she sees God at work!
 
Is it possible our resistance to change, struggles, and suffering is more about our eyes and heart than it is about our situation? Could it be that the comfort and security that comes from consistency also blinds us to the possibility of a better way, a better future?
 
While change is hard, as followers of Jesus, we have the assurance that God is always working for our ultimate good. Thus, we must look to the future, resting in God’s goodness and running into change with faith like Doug. He left family behind to come to us. He now leaves behind a new family and a secure income, trusting that God is working a good plan. Welcome change. Risk failure. Follow Jesus.
 
Maybe Doug will return. Maybe we’ll find someone better (this seems really impossible). Maybe we’ll just mobilize more believers to fill the gaps? Regardless, we must trust that God is working for our good… growing our faith and molding us into Christ-like leaders who are developing and deploying more Christ-like leaders.
 
So, here’s my challenges to you in living this faith out…
          1. Consider what changes stink for you now.
          2. Call on God to help you see what he is doing.
          3. Commit yourself to trusting and following Jesus.
          4. Change something you hold too tightly to. (For instance, I know God wants me to exercise, but I refuse. Maybe it’s apologizing to someone, volunteering somewhere, or beginning daily devotions. Whatever it is, change it. It might smell better than you ever imagined.)

1 Comment
Mistress Alberta link
12/27/2022 01:49:41 pm

Thanks for a great reead

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    February 2023
    November 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    RSS Feed

    Check out more articles here.

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


N3697 County Road EE
Waupun, WI 53963
(920) 346-5505
office@altoreformedchurch.org
Worship Services:  Sundays at 9:30am or Live on ​YouTube
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Our Mission >
      • Missionaries
    • Our History
    • Our Beliefs
    • Our Staff & Leaders
    • Our Policies
  • Get involved
    • Grow and Connect >
      • Men's Ministry
      • Women's Ministries
      • Youth Group
    • Discover Your Strengths
    • Prayer Ministries
    • Church Directory
  • Messages
    • Jesus
    • Christmas 2022
    • It Starts at Home
    • Hope Lives Here
    • Re-forming Me
    • Gabriel
    • Tough Questions
    • AMEN Archives
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Blog