How to Handle the Unexpected Change

“This is not what I had planned.”

If you haven’t said this in your lifetime, then just wait a while. Eventually you will come to that place in your job, your family, your church, or just life in general where things aren’t exactly the way you pictured them. It’s normal. You show your true character by what you do once you reach that point.

I was there not too long ago. My life was starting to move in the direction of my dreams. My garden was show quality, my writing was taking off, and I was in a place that I enjoyed. Then it all changed.

I am one of those positive people that have a way of getting on other people’s nerves. My faith and focus have brought me through some crazy times. My belief system has pulled me through some serious valleys. But this time caught me off guard. And besides, it was the direction I had planned.

It was easier to wallow in my misery than it was to push on. I was irritated at God. He knew what I wanted. He knew the direction I was headed. I was finally on the right path and then HE moved the path.

The scripture is full of people who followed God’s direction kicking and screaming (or at least moaning and groaning). It’s not like I have a monopoly on this scenario. My actions (or lack there of) are made all the more pathetic when I look back today. It’s not like God was asking me to build a boat in the middle of the desert. It’s not like He sent me to a ruler who wanted me dead to demand that the ruler free God’s people.

The task that I faced was not monumental, life threatening, or all that big in reality. The problem was that is was different from what I had planned. So for me, in that moment, it was a mountain.

The choice had to be made. What will I do with what I face? The circumstances can’t be changed, so how to I turn my misery into rejoicing?

After months of feeling sorrow for myself, I got up. That’s it. I just got up and decided to push on. How I live is my choice – not my circumstances, not my job and not my family. Although my situation wasn’t what it was months before, I was still capable of getting to where I wanted to be. I just had to keep pushing.

It you are at a place where you want to throw up your hands and scream or throw in the towel and run away, I can completely empathize. Instead of giving up or giving in, dig in with all you have. Take a deep breath, face the situation head on, and press on through:

STICK TO THE FIGHT WHEN YOU’RE HARDEST HIT,
ITS WHEN THINGS SEEM WORSE YOU MUSTN’T QUIT.

3 comments February 21st, 2008