Coach's Corner

Real Change Happens When…

Change is a word that is dreaded by many. It’s one of those words that causes many people to cringe when they hear. Maybe it’s because change brings uncertainty; or change is uncomfortable; perhaps it’s because change requires something different. For whatever reason, change is tough and many resist it.

But change is necessary for new things to grow and emerge. When we change, we take a step forward into opportunity. Change helps us position ourselves well for the new adventures that lay ahead. As Christ followers, change should be a word that is used often in our vocabulary. We are changing people! We’ve entered into a relationship with God that requires us to change the way we live and act. And although sometimes we may resist change, it is necessary for us to develop and grow the way God wants us too.

So how does real change happen? How do we go about allowing change to occur in our lives?

Well… Real change happens when we…

Recognize that pain, suffering, and difficulties lead to a transformed life.

Life brings pain, suffering, and difficulties. When we realize that every life, including our own, will have some element of hardship, we position ourselves for real change. When we recognize that God sometimes takes us down a difficult path in order to grow us, we can experience real change. Understanding that God’s grace is enough and that we are made strong when weak is a truth that results in real change [2 Corinthians 12:9-10]

Rely on the Bible to be our life manual

Everything these days comes with a manual. I was recently trying to change a setting on my GPS. I struggled searching for the right combination of buttons to hit until I finally had the bright idea to look at the GPS manual. Life is the same way. As we journey through life, often looking for the right setting so our lives will be changed, we simply need to turn to the Bible to help us change the way God wants us to. [1 Timothy 3:16]

Humbly submit to God through prayer and devotion

Change is hard to accomplish when we don’t think we need to change. When we look at ourselves as a finished products we question why change would ever need to take place. But we know that we aren’t finished. We know that we all fall short [Romans 3:23]. We know that real change happens when we lay our pride down and humbly submit to God through prayer and devotion [1 Peter 5:5]

Surround ourselves with friends who call us to a higher standard

I remember the first time a friend pulled me aside and corrected for me for a wrong I had committed. Initially, I was upset. “How dare he tell me I was in the wrong!” I thought. But as his words stayed with me and I thought more about my actions, I knew that he was calling me to something higher. He was looking out for me. When we surround ourselves with friends who love and care for us and call us to a higher standard, we position ourselves for real change [Proverbs 17:27].

Regularly meet as the collective church

Meeting together as the collective church is one of the healthiest ways to experience real change. Whenever we are given opportunity to express our hearts through songs to God and allow ourselves to be challenged by the teaching of God’s word, we give opportunity for reflection and encouragement to happen and real change to occur [Hebrews 10:25].

Change will always be uncertain, change will always be uncomfortable, and change will always require something different. But change will always give opportunity to take those steps towards being more like Christ. As Christ followers, let's embrace real change; the kind of change that see hearts transformed and people moving towards God.

Posted January 01, 2010