Your Marriage, Your Future, and a Holy Imagination: A 5-Day Reading Plan预览

Day 2: Invite and Embrace Change

How do you feel about change? New things? New places? Does it excite you? Does it stress you out? If driving the same roads, going to the same places, and hanging with the same people played a part in getting us where we are, how can we expect change if we don’t allow God to take us to new places?

Some changes are good, others are bad, and some are difficult while some are easy. But with change almost always comes discomfort—especially when we are accustomed to something and know progress will come with struggle or even pain. When God wants to do work in us, it will often come with side effects. Like a sore muscle after a strenuous workout, we may feel exhausted or even hurt. But we can trust that the soreness we feel is a sign of change and growth—a sign of God doing something new in us.

Embracing change is a biblical concept seen in Ephesians 4:22-24, where believers are urged to put off the old self and put on the new self. This transformation requires a willingness to let go of the old and embrace the new. Philippians 3:13-14 emphasizes pressing on toward the goal, acknowledging that change is a part of our journey. The Bible encourages us to trust that God's plan for change, even when uncomfortable, leads to growth and salvation.

Is there a church, a neighborhood, a city, a state, a counselor, or a group of friends that God is calling you to? Has He put a message in your heart, gently encouraging you to stretch out of your comfort zone? When we (Katie and Josh) were at our low point, God directed us to a new city, a new house, a new church, and new mentors—all of which we needed to get our marriage on a better track. When you move forward in faith, looking beyond the front of your nose, God will guide you to many new things and ultimately bring about a new work in your marriage.

Reflect

Is God urging me to stretch myself today? What might it look like to step beyond my comfort zone and look for ways to nurture and challenge my relationship?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for wanting the best for me and for urging me to grow even when I am resistant. Help me to see the changes you want for me and my marriage, and then bless me with the courage to embrace them.