‘Change Gonna Come’

Change is scary…it’s also inevitable. Change is a fact of life, sometimes it can be the hardest thing to deal with, and other times it can be a huge blessing from God. The thing about change is that it happens everywhere, regardless of who it happens to or who it is affecting. It’s scary when things are changing and we have no control over it. Perhaps your best friend is falling into a bad crowd, or your family is moving across the country from you. However I feel that change is even more terrifying when you DO have control over it, because when change is a choice, there is always that fear that you are making the wrong decision. So how can we combat that fear? How can we be secure in the decisions we make? Decisions that will have a profound effect on our future and the future of the ones we love? I would like to hear all of your opinions on the matter if you wouldn’t mind sharing.

Over the past few months I have been contemplating a huge career change for myself. I have been praying about taking that leap of faith into an entirely different career and industry, and asking God for His will, His guidance in this decision. I’ve always wanted to be a therapist, counseling others in their time of need. I’ve always had a heart for helping others, whether it be my own brother or a stranger on the street. For the past 7 years or so I’ve felt called to be a clinical psychologist. However, feeling called to it and actually making the change are two entirely different concepts. Over the past few months I’ve prayed and prayed about this decision. I’ve talking with loved ones, friends, even strangers about it. I’ve been asking God over and over if this is the right decision for my life. Asking Him “please give me a sign!” As if at some point I’ll be out in the water surfing and a dolphin would pop up and tell me to go get my masters degree in counseling psychology…that was the type of sign I’ve been looking for. But, the fact of the matter is, God has been giving me signs all along, little subtle hints here and there, urging me along in conversations with friends. What I finally realized was that God kept slamming doors shut in my current career, making it harder and harder for me to continue down the road I’ve been on since I was 18. I am starting my masters in counseling psychology in June, and I am incredibly excited about it. I’m also scared, but I know in my heart that this is where God wants me to be. Change is always scary, no matter what, but it can be less daunting when there is a peace in your heart. And that peace can only come through asking for God’s will in your life.

How do you handle change? What makes it less frightening for you?