Embracing Change: Trusting God Through Life's Transitions in the New Year

A New Year, A New Challenge

It’s a new year, and I’m so grateful to have seen another day! However, we must be prepared to face the challenges ahead. Looking back at last year, I’m not sure I handled everything perfectly, but I’m not giving up just yet. One of the challenges I still struggle with is embracing change. Can you relate? If so, here’s a virtual high five!

Change often requires us to trust God beyond what we see and feel. It’s a difficult process, but we can find peace in knowing that He is always with us, even in the midst of uncertainty.

Embracing Change: A Tough Yet Essential Lesson

If you’re one of those people who isn’t bothered by change, and you can roll with the punches, then I encourage you to find someone who is struggling with it. They might need your support and encouragement as they cope with the changes in their life.

We've all heard that "change is the only constant" in life, though I’m sure we’ve each heard different variations of this quote. While change may be inevitable, one thing remains the same: God never changes. His love, His power, His faithfulness are constant, even when everything else seems to shift around us.

The Seasons of Life

As Ecclesiastes 3:1 (KJV) reminds us:
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

While we live under the heavens, seasons change. We laugh, we cry, and we face both joys and sorrows. Change becomes more pronounced, especially when we're going through difficult times or when our comfort zone is disrupted. But even in these moments, we can lean on the truth that God is constant.

My Struggle with Change

I know this all too well. I tend to resist change until I’m absolutely forced to confront it. I’m a creature of habit. I love my routines—waking up for morning coffee and prayer at the same time each day. If something unexpected gets added to my schedule, it can throw me completely off balance. I’m rarely spontaneous, unless I have no other plans. In fact, you could say I’m a little on the rigid side—haha!

But what happens when life presents challenges that go beyond our daily routines? How do we cope when change involves our health, finances, or relationships?

When Change Feels Like a Trial

I’ll be honest: I don’t do well with embracing changes that involve hardship. When change is tied to trials and difficulties—whether it’s a health scare, financial struggle, or a strained relationship—it can easily lead me into anxiety and even depression. The fear of losing control is overwhelming, but let’s be real—do we ever truly have control? It’s comforting to remember that God is in control, even when we feel like life is spinning out of our grasp. His sovereignty brings us peace through life’s transitions.

Moving Forward with Faith

As we face the new year, I pray that this post encourages you. Change, though challenging, is part of the journey we walk with God. Trusting in His plan for our lives—especially during tough times—will give us the peace we need to navigate the inevitable changes ahead.

Here’s to embracing change in faith this year!

3 Steps To Help You Embrace Changes This Year

1. Trusting in God’s Sovereignty and His Plan

There are moments when we simply need to remind ourselves that God’s ways and plans are far greater and wiser than our own. I often find myself needing this reminder, especially when I'm struggling to resolve difficulties on my own. Trusting in the Lord means being assured, secure, and confident in His plan, even when things feel uncertain.

Proverbs 3:5 encourages us to trust in God with our whole heart. It’s easy to give trust to those around us, but often in a limited sense. Unfortunately, we sometimes apply this same limited trust to God. But God deserves our whole heart—our full, unwavering trust. This means trusting Him, not just when everything is going perfectly, but at all times. It’s easy to trust when your bank account is full, your relationships are secure, and life feels smooth. But we must trust Him even when life isn’t perfect.

Psalm 62:8 says, "Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." This reminds us that no matter what, we can rely on God's character and His faithfulness.

Lesson: When anxiety or uncertainty arises, shift your focus back to Him. Meditate on His character and His promises. Surround yourself with reminder scriptures to help you remember that God is good and a promise keeper.

2. Releasing Fear and Control

Here’s a little-known fact about me: I love to drive. I’ve been behind the wheel for as long as I can remember, which brings me to another truth—I do not like being a passenger. I get motion sickness, and sitting in the passenger seat makes me anxious, especially when I don’t trust the driver completely. This, in a way, mirrors how I struggle with giving up control in my life and the fear I feel when I try to surrender it.

Psalm 56 is a great passage to turn to when fear creeps in. David, a warrior, was no stranger to fear. In verse 3, he acknowledges that fear comes, but he chooses to trust in the Lord. It’s through trusting God that our fear can be alleviated. In verse 4, he declares, "In God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?" It’s a powerful reminder that trusting in God dispels fear.

Lesson: When fear takes hold, remember God's promises. Recall the eternal promises we have through faith in Jesus Christ. During times of fear, we can also offer thanksgiving and praise to Him. Write scriptures on sticky notes, keep a journal, or carry a mini notebook with verses that encourage you. Take time each day to express your gratitude and praise.

3. Embracing God’s Plan for the Future

When life presents change, I often turn to stories like that of Ruth and Naomi, who faced incredible loss, leaving their homeland, and confronting an uncertain future. Or consider Joseph—one day living a blessed life with his family, and the next, sold into slavery and facing trial after trial. Their stories remind me of a bigger picture—the picture of God’s plan at work.

Like me, you might struggle with wanting to understand the full picture, but I’m learning to be still and trust that God is working, even when I can't see it. Philippians 1:6 assures us that God, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. Trusting in His plan is key, especially when faced with challenges and transitions.

Lesson: This is the tough part—using the changes in our lives as opportunities to align more closely with God’s plan. Romans 8:28 reminds us that if we belong to Christ, God works all things together for our good. The changes we face aren’t random; they are shaping us, strengthening us, humbling us, and refining us. Every season of life is in God's hands.

Embracing Change and Trusting God’s Sovereign Plan

As we go through the changes and seasons of life, it's important to remember that change is a natural part of being human. I know it can be unsettling at times, but it also reminds me that God is in control of every moment. Embracing change doesn’t mean we have all the answers, but trusting in God’s plan for us, both now and for eternity, gives us peace. Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, shows us just how deeply God cares for us and His plan for our lives. Even in the middle of change, He’s our anchor. We can rest in the truth that God’s plan is good, His love never changes, and through Jesus, we have the assurance that He holds our future in His hands—both now and forever.