The ocean is unpredictable. It will go from being serene and tranquil, to having turbulent and uncontrollable waves in only a matter of minutes. The scary thing is, life can be just as unpredictable. Once you feel like the waves have finally calmed down and it’s only smooth sailing from here, a storm comes and changes the course of your ship. Maybe the storm is your parents’ divorce, a breakup, transferring schools, losing friends, losing your job, or even the death of a loved one. When an unexpected change leaves you lost at sea, do not be discouraged because God is your anchor and the ultimate navigator
"Instead, surrender your old plans and trust and follow the blueprint that God has already designed for you."
Throughout life we all go through small changes that help us grow, and then every once in a while God decides to shake things up with a huge change that scares us to death. Most of us have an idea of how we want our life to be. We make a detailed blue print of our lives. We plan out where we’re going to go to college and what we’re going to major in. We choose our dream job and plan out how we’re going to achieve it. We already know what age we’re going to get married and have kids; and we know what age we’re going to retire. As we’re following the blue print of how our life is supposed be, God comes along and hijacks our plan. When there's a huge shift in our plans and our blueprint is destroyed, we’re left wondering what to do next? The answer is, don’t try to control things by frantically putting the pieces of your blueprint back together. Instead, surrender your old plans and trust and follow the blueprint that God has already designed for you.
"He assigned to you a purpose bigger than yourself, bigger than you could ever imagine."
Psalm 139:16 says, “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Before you were even born, you were chosen. God chose you, and set you apart for a specific purpose that only you can fulfill. He gave you talents, passions, and unique traits that you would one day use to accomplish the purpose He has created you for. He planted a dream in your heart that continues to grow, no matter how hard you try to ignore it. He opened doors for you that no man can shut and for your protection, closed doors than no man can open. He gave you wings, so that when the time came you would be able to fly. He assigned to you a purpose bigger than yourself, bigger than you could ever imagine.
"The same God who controls the waves of the sea is in control of your life..."
If you know that God has had the entire course of your life planned out since before you were born. Why are you so afraid when His plan no longer matches yours? His plan for you is greater than your plan for yourself. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future.” It is natural to be afraid of change, but when you know that God has your best interest in mind and remember that the same God who controls the waves of the sea is in control of your life, there is no longer any reason to be afraid.
"They chose to not focus on the tremendous change ahead of them, but to focus on the unfailing God that stood beside them."
The best stories always begin with a change. Take a look at the stories of Esther and Joseph. Both of them were stripped away from their home and family, leaving them terrified of the change that was about to take place. Fast-forward, and Esther is a queen and has saved the Jews, and Joseph is made a ruler over all of Egypt. Instead of letting the fear of change consume them, they chose to trust that God would lead them through it. They chose to not focus on the tremendous change ahead of them, but to focus on the unfailing God that stood beside them. The change that is occurring in your life might be big, but your God is incredibly bigger. When your parents are getting a divorce, look at God. When your marriage is falling apart, look at God. When you transfer schools or lose your group of friends, look at God. When you’re going through a tough break up, look at God. When you lose your job, look at God. When you feel as if you’re world is turned upside down, remember the stories of Esther and Joseph and know that this is only the beginning of your story.
"God would not allow you to experience a change, without equipping you properly to survive it."
No one likes change, but everyone needs it. Change is what causes a bare tree to bloom in spring. If the caterpillar never experienced change it would never become the beautiful butterfly it was meant to be. If Esther and Joseph never experienced change they would’ve never saved thousands of people. Without change you will never become the person that God has intended you to be, and you will never fulfill the purpose He has chosen you for. Change is scary, but how you choose to handle change is what separates you from being good, to becoming great. God would not allow you to experience a change, without equipping you properly to survive it. God gave you wings the moment you were born because He knew you would need them one day. When God is calling you to take a leap of faith don’t doubt if you can fly, trust in the wings that God has given you and jump. Fly into change without fear, and know that just in case your wings do give out, He’s right there to catch you. John 13:7, “You do not realize what I am doing now, but one day you will understand."
