“(…) you have not traveled this way neither yesterday nor the day before.” (Book of Joshua, ch. 3, verse 4B*)
Just a few days ago, we celebrated the end of one period and the beginning of another in our lives. It was interesting to see how we all seemed to anticipate more the end of the past year than the beginning of the new one. Why is that? It is clear that the last twelve months were not easy for anyone. Somehow, naturally, and perhaps naively, we want to exit this episode, hoping the calendar will change things for the better. However, there is a small problem. When you have already experienced something and know what it was like — difficult or easy — you find security in that. The assurance comes from the familiar, albeit negative. People feel secure about things they know, expecting nothing will surprise them there anymore. Even if the new ahead is filled with hope and good expectations, it continues to scare us because it is unfamiliar.
We can reach the following conclusion: The new is unfamiliar, and therefore it scares us. Where can we find security? What do we discover in God's word that can give us assurance in times of change and entering the new year? How can we "ensure change for the better"?
Lasting Positive Change
Most of us concentrate on motivation. We eagerly seek it in good examples, imagining what could happen if we acted like them. However, our motivation for change is often based solely on emotion, which easily evaporates when confronted with the mundane and ordinary. The challenge lies in keeping our motivation alive like a car's running engine. But what sustains it? What is the fuel for our motivation for change? Truth and awareness.
What do you lack, what shortage in your character and behavior harms both you and those around you? Perhaps you lack patience, love, perseverance, forgiveness, understanding, wisdom? Maybe you have been hurt, disappointed, traumatized, and rendered unable to live as God’s child? Apostle John tells us this: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful to His promise, He is just, He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (First Epistle of John, ch. 1, verses 8-9*, darker font is ours). Realizing that there is something which harms us, holds us back, brings pain and injury to us and others is the first step towards secure positive change. It is the first and perhaps only step from our side towards the healing process of repentance-forgiveness-restoration-transformation.
What About Circumstances? What About Others?
So far, we have talked about the change that occurs within us, over which we seem to have some control or at least we think we do. Logically, the question arises about everything else and everyone else around us — if things change there but not for the better? How can we prevent it?
When Moses returns from Mount Sinai with the tablets of the Law given to him by God, he sees something terrible. During his absence, the people of Israel have made a golden calf as an idol to worship. Everyone is uncontrollable, fallen into idolatry and betrayal against their God, sinking into depravity and feasting. Moses is angry, disappointed, desperate, and frightened. He is set as a leader of these people but has no control over their actions and feels his powerlessness in personally ensuring their safety. Change has come, and it is not good. He knows the consequences of these actions. He knows that God is holy and therefore angry at the actions of all the Hebrews. The Lord tells Moses to lead the people to the Promised Land, but that He Himself will not manifest before them so as not to bring them to ruin in His anger. Until now, Yahweh Himself has led the people with His presence, manifested by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in a pillar of fire. Here is Moses' response: "If Your presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here" (Book of Exodus, ch. 33, verse 15A*) Then the Lord promises to go with them and guide them throughout their wandering in the desert.
We do not have control over the choices of others, even if we have to bear some responsibility for other people. We cannot force them to change for the better. Often, we also lack control over the situations and circumstances around us, as we saw in 2020. However, what we know is that the Lord is the One who holds everything in His hand. That's why Moses' words are: "Do not lead us into something new if You are not there".
The only sure guarantee for good change is for God to be in it — He wants it, initiates it, and brings it to completion. When we are with Him, following His words and seeking His guidance, for us, the change will always be positive, the new will always be better than the old, and the future will be full of hope.
Challenge for the Week: If you didn’t celebrate the New Year enthusiastically enough because you thought nothing better awaited, now is the time to amend that. We challenge you to celebrate today. No matter what your way of marking “today” is, do it by asking the Lord to give true joy and gratitude in your heart. Happy, blessed, and full of miracles New 2021 year, dear friend!
*Biblical quotations are based on the text of Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013.
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