Turn

Recently, we started a new year. How did it feel to you to turn the page on your calendar to 2021!  Pretty good, right?  2020 has undoubtedly, been the most challenging year any of us have experienced, but it is finally over.

We can now optimistically look forward to better things – not perfect to be sure, but hopefully better!

Recently, we started a new year. How did it feel to you to turn the page on your calendar to 2021!  Pretty good, right?  2020 has undoubtedly, been the most challenging year any of us have experienced, but it is finally over. We can now optimistically look forward to better things – not perfect to be sure, but hopefully better!

It’s interesting to me that even with uncertainty, the act of moving forward toward something we expect to be better, can give us a sense of joyful anticipation.  Could it be that humans were created by God to desire improvement and growth in ourselves and our environment?  This idea of turning from what is past to something we anticipate being better certainly seems to be a human characteristic.

However, we must recognize that for many people turning from the past is not easy.  Often there are factors that impede our ability to move forward.  Things like fear; fear of the unknown; fear of failure; fear of losing relationships or possessions; or fear of change itself.

So, how do we reconcile this apparent conflict between desiring positive change in our lives and our reluctance to change based on factors like fear?

When I think back to times in my life when I have had major decisions to consider, I recall feelings of uncertainty due to insufficient information or lack of personal comfort with people and circumstances.  I have sometimes lamented the fact that I could not know with certainty what the next step would look like.  As I think about it now, I realize that a big factor was often a lack of trust.  Trust in God, trust in other people, and trust in myself.  So, for me, lack of trust + lack of understanding = inability to make a decision to move forward!

There is a scripture verse which I memorized several years ago that has been a comfort to me many times because it speaks to both trust and understanding.  That verse is Proverbs 3:5-6; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”  I highly recommend memorizing this verse!

Another factor that sometimes holds us back from moving from where we are to where we want to be is a general reluctance to change!  It could be from fear, or lack of trust, or lack of understanding, but it could also be simple stubbornness!  

Perhaps it is because you do not like making decisions, or you recognize your inadequacy which causes you to want to stay in your comfort zone.  You might feel that change is inconvenient and is something to be avoided.

But, like the calendar changing to a new year, positive change is possible for all of us.  It might be difficult and take determination to change, but with God’s help, it is definitely possible.

So, here’s the most important point for us to move forward in positive change; “Let go and Let God”!  That means letting go of our fears, our doubts, our insecurities, our lack of understanding, our comfort, our negative thoughts, our self-condemnation, and more, and turning it all over to God’s care.  It is all about making a conscious decision to turn our life over and base our future on God through our faith in Jesus Christ. Psalm 25:5 says, “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.”

by Scott, Celebrate Recovery Leader

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