9/25/2020 0 Comments "Holding Onto Hope” "5 Ways We Can Stay Hopeful in the Midst of Change Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." 2020 has been quite the year to say the least. I know many of us have experienced massive change as well as unexpected circumstances and through it all, we’ve had to figure out how to cope in new ways. We can have hope even when we may be experiencing a lot of change because of who God is and what we have access to in Him. One important key to keep in mind when navigating change is that even though things in our lives may be changing, God doesn’t change. “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power” Ephesians 1:18-19 NKJV We have hope available in Him. We have peace available in Him. We have wisdom in Him as we navigate all the changes occurring in our lives. It doesn’t mean things will be easy, but it means we have HOPE . We can have assurance of Him being at work in our lives even when the going gets tough, our vision gets blurry, and we feel overwhelmed. The good news is there are ways we can cope when change happens in our lives and in this article I will be sharing 5 ways to stay hopeful in the midst of change instead of letting change intimidate us. 1) Acknowledge the Change and Process It with Care Recognize the change ( or changes) occurring and be aware of how you're processing it all. What habits are you putting into place? What do you go to to cope? Be mindful to practice good mental, spiritual, and emotional wellness practices that will help you stay calm during all of this. This looks like going for walks, journaling, spending time outside, exercising, being in the Word of God and fellowshipping with other believers, etc. Whatever helps you on a normal basis, make sure to be proactive during this time to take additional care. Change can really take a toll on us but it doesn't have to if we stay ahead of the game. When you're physically sick, chances are you take extra precautions- similar to taking care of your physical health when sick, be proactive about taking care of your mind and emotions when you are experiencing a lot of change. Daily routines are a great way to feel at balance even through change. 2) Keep a thankful list Change can feel overwhelming but gratitude allows us to have hope and see how God is working through all of this even when we can't necessarily see the other side of things just yet. This might sound like a contradiction but by slowing down to thank God for what we think is little each day we are telling our brains to remember that God is at work even while we're waiting for the big things to come together. The enemy wants to convince you that God isn't looking out for you and that you're all alone in what you're going through. Be assured of what God says in His word and that He is who He says He is. He is with you and He's doing things behind the scenes as well. 3) Take one day and one moment at a time. Even though change can seem overwhelming, it doesn't have to be if we don't let it. By slowing down and living in the present, we'll be focusing more on what we can actually handle versus getting overwhelmed by a whole year or five years or a lifetime ahead of ourselves. Jesus said it Himself- do not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself. (paraphrase) He doesn't give us all the information now because we wouldn't be able to handle it. Ask God to show you what you can do today that will help you prepare for the future without being consumed by worry over it! What are seeds you can be sowing during this season you are in? Don't discount what seems little but instead be faithful to what God has entrusted you both big and small. God does have your back and He is taking care of you. Take one moment at a time. 4) Share with someone you trust what you're experiencing. One of the biggest ways the enemy will try to come after us is to get us alone because when we're alone we're more susceptible to his lies. Find someone you can trust who can encourage you and speak the truth in love . You want someone who can help you be encouraged in the Lord and call you out on the things in your life that are actually hurting you. Don't go through this alone. True friends will help speak life and hope into your situation. 5) Hold His Promises Close to Your Heart Trials can either cause us to press in and grow closer to God or they can be the reason we choose to walk away. Holding onto hope takes endurance and remembering who God is and what He has promised you. Endurance can only happen when you truly believe God is who He says He is and you consistently speak and meditate on His promises. Spend more time thinking on His promises and His character than you do wallowing in worry! Endurance can only happen when we refuse to be intimidated by the future and refuse to stay stuck in the past. We must practice trusting Jesus moment by moment rather than try to figure out our whole lives if we want to endure what we are going through. When we hold His promises close to us, we are keeping His Word as our main focal point rather than viewing life through our circumstances. How to have hope in the midst of change? We can have hope even without all the answers we crave by leaning on God and His Word, holding His promises close to our hearts, practicing self care , and doing life with other believers. If this article encouraged you, please leave a comment or share this with someone !
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