Change Can be Hard
For the past several years, my wife Teri and I have been thinking, discussing, and studying the idea of finding several acres of property outside of town. We’ve coupled that with
Well, during the summer of 2017, the Lord provided just such a place. More property, less house and still close to town. The financial processes of buying and selling were – interesting – but finally were completed. So far, only patience and basic human kindness were required, and no real surprises had been encountered. That
The yard sales were fun, in that quick cash was in hand. Choosing which things to give away to those in need was rewarding. Then, the surprise; the new reality arrived. In this case, having to part with many large pieces of furniture, lamps, and other home accessories. We called a local auctioneer, and he and his men were soon due to arrive. Then we realized that the loveseats we had used for years to pray and read the Bible together – were leaving. A trusty old leather club chair in which for decades we had relaxed and
But then another surprise. As soon as the auctioning company men came and removed the items, the dread and sadness were almost immediately replaced with a sense of relief and freedom. It caught both of us off guard, but the change was unmistakable. Our planning, thinking, discussing and studying were beginning to change, and the empty spaces in our old home where the pieces had been, meant change was
At Community Christian Counseling we frequently talk to people about changes in their lives. More often than a topic like a voluntary change in living quarters; we listen and encourage counselees about leaving life-patterns of harmful, destructive, self-serving and often secret behaviors. As biblically-based
To be free from a larger house and stuff, Teri and I had to be willing to take the necessary steps of selling, releasing and change. When, in our human weaknesses and pride, we take on sinful behaviors as a lifestyle, we have to take the necessary steps of confessing, rejecting and turning away from (repenting) of those behaviors – then replacing them with upright and Christ-honoring behaviors and attitudes. The Apostle Paul says it this way, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24
That sounds right, and it is
Over the next few
Incidentally, Teri and I have decided to think of our new residence not as a cottage, but a tiny house mansion!
Jim Evans, Ph.D.
CCC Executive Director & Staff Counselor
Thank you for your writing Jim, and congratulations to you and Teri on your new tiny house mansion!
I would like to say that as much as nature abhors a vacuum, the same principle applies in the realm of the spirit. As you cited, Ephesians 4:22-24 points to the need to put off the old self, and put on the new one. We can’t put off anything unless we replace it with something else. At the root of sin we are likely to find the king of sins: pride. We want to see things our way, naturally resist change, justify our behavior, and easily shift blame. For any situation, even if we have been victimized, it is wise to always ask the Father: “What is my part in this, what are you trying to teach me, what is your will.” Change will always happen, in fact, if anything is certain it is change. We have the choice to change in God’s hands, or insist that our ways will save us. The reason we have no excuse to not change is because God has never asked us to do something, or live out his standards on our own. He has given us power from heaven through the gift of the Holy Spirit to do his will, albeit imperfectly. The Lord weighs our hearts, He knows if we are seeking him with sincerity. The road is full of imperfection because we are in the process of being sanctified.