In this new season, one of the best things I have learned in this season is other than God; the only thing that is constant and consistent is change. Change is the one thing that we cannot avoid as human beings; it is inevitable. Although COVID-19 was a major shock to all of our system, financially, socially, spiritually, and culturally, the change was something we, as a society drastically needed.
It appears as though many people are struggling to adjust to the “new normal.” Our lives have required new adjustments, putting us on a completely different path than we might have expected. It is easy to harp on “what could have been” or the things that we have lost during the pandemic. However, we must remember that while the pandemic has brought devastation and loss, it has at the same time been fruitful. There are many things that we have gained from the pandemic, even if those gains aren’t tangible to the naked eye. Whether it entails getting our homes in orders, reconnecting with family (even if through Zoom), restarting passion projects, or redefining our relationships with self and others, this defining moment in 2021 marks a time for GOOD change as well as the bad.
Change is essential for growth. It causes us to reevaluate our choices and gives us an opportunity to redirect our course if we desire to do so. However in order to truly benefit from change, one must be brave enough to self reflect.The structure of the brain is designed to fight, flight, or freeze. Through many years of trial and error, we as humans have evolved to become self-aware. We have discovered strategies and instincts that have allowed us to know when to run away, retreat, be still, or listen. But we also know when to lean in, when to speak and, when to assert ourselves. Cultivating instructs through our experience is where the intimate Truth is exposed, and this truth is a gift from God. God WANTS us to acknowledge our instincts, even in times when we are unsure, afraid, in doubt, or in panic. It is in our intimate discussions with God, the times when we chronically talk and listen to Him, that we gain the valuable virtue of Trust and Truth with our Savior.
Truth is not just a one sided experience, but has multiple views. There is your personal truth (from the perspective of what happened to you), then there is the other truth (what others think of you), and then there is God’s truth. God’s truth unveils His word, guiding us to focus on how we can serve our highest purposes and reach us our divine destination. No matter our ambitions, goals or feelings, we must always strive to see the world from God’s truth. This is why change is important. It suddenly shakes our foundation of Truth to its core, moving us away from our personal truth, and redirects us towards God’s truth, the spiritually objective Truth.
In moments of great change, these conversations with God, along with our choices, provide a gateway to the abundant life. Our divine destination is never a direct route; we never arrive at it at the first stop. Instead, the continual journeys we make take days, months and even years to complete. Change to our course does not derail us from our divine journey, but provokes a clear awakening and realization for redirection. With God’s truth, introspection, and self-reflection, we have the control to change our course; to move towards happiness, health, and a fulfilling life. While making change is difficult and scary, embracing change ultimately gets us to our destination faster than ever before. Avoiding or resisting this pivotal change is drawing a mark in the sand of times and in our personal lives, as we continue on a every winding road. When we follow God’s truth, we follow God’s will.
So as we hopefully approach the tail end of the pandemic, I encourage you to ask the tough questions. How did the pandemic change my life? Am I happy now? What are my future goals? And am I taking the right steps to move forward towards my goals? Asking these questions, and finding God’s truth in the answers, will help you evolve with and benefit from, the many changes life brings.