I like to think of myself as a flexible, adaptable person. I can jump into most “new” situations with little to no anxiety. I enjoy learning something new, visiting places I’ve never been, eating foods I’ve never tasted, being introduced to people I’ve never met before and even attempting a language I’ve never spoken before! But ask me to change my Christmas morning from presents, coffee and sour cream coffee cake in Christmas Jammie’s, to stockings and a formal sit down, dressed in your Christmas best breakfast and I become the Rock of Gibraltar! “Thou Shall Not Be Moved!”

Whether change comes easy to you or you have already broken into a cold sweat just thinking about it, change is hard! It requires us to let go of something to take hold of something else. In letting go we feel loss, vulnerability and fear. In grabbing hold of something new we feel similar. The new brings fear of the unknown and complete vulnerability in embracing and learning the new.

The problem is we do not grow if we do not change.

God desires us to grow, and in order to grow we must change!

One of the most painful seasons of change I have ever observed was watching my grandson learn to ride a bike! He is hands-down the most coordinated, gifted and natural athlete I have ever seen! Therefore, my husband, his Papa, who adores him and loves nothing more in life than doing activities with him, set out on a quest to teach him to ride a bike!  His sister who is 2 1/2 years older had mastered the bike at a very young age! But her brother was not following in her footsteps. Papa bought him a new bike just his size, he bought him all of the padded gear necessary so he wouldn’t hurt himself, and set out instructing him on all the finer points of bike riding! Cade would have nothing to do with it. Weekend after weekend Papa bribed him, I mean told him he would reward him, if he would just try riding. Cade wasn’t bending! Papa coerced him saying that he and his sister were going to go on a long bike ride, didn’t he want to come too! Cade stubbornly refused to ride the bike and ran the entire bike ride along side the two of them! Papa never gave up offering him money if he would ride etc. etc. etc…a whole year went by and Cade out grew the first bike! When the size of the bike became his excuse he received a new one for his birthday! His dad worked with him holding the back of the bike seat and showing him all kinds of strategies! It was still incredibly painful to watch as Cade could not overcome his fear of letting go of something old and embracing something new! 

Now before you go and write us off as torturers or something, please know that we know Cade. We knew he was more than capable of balancing on and riding a bike! His fear and vulnerability had just taken deep route and was consuming him. 

Now you’ve probably already guessed the end of my story. The minute Cade decided to let go of his fear and embrace the new he took off like a light! It’s true, that’s exactly what happened and he’s never looked back!

Do you ever do that? I know I do! I can feel so comfortable and in control of where I’m at that the thought of letting go and embracing something new chills me to the bone.

If Cade would have done that he would never have learned to ride a bike! And if we do that, we will never grow and become the children God intends us to be!

TRUTH BOMB

GOD INTENDS FOR US TO CHANGE BECAUSE HE INTENDS FOR US TO GROW!

“Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature.”

Hebrews 5:13-14

Change is essential for our spiritual growth! It is frightening and difficult  but we do not have to do it alone!

Just like Cade’s Father and Grandfather held onto him until they could let go and he could do it on his own, your Heavenly Father will hold onto you!

Speak Truth Love