Embracing Change and Finding Resilience Through Christ

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Welcome to One Day Out, a weekly newsletter to help deepen your faith, enhance your health, and guide you in pursuing a purpose-filled life.

Today’s Snapshot:

• Change is scary, but surrendering to God makes it easier

• Finding resilience through Christ

Opening Prayer

Lord, thank you that I get to worship you and glorify your name in all that I do. You are a God of righteousness and make no mistakes, and I give thanks and praise to you for sending your Son to cleanse me of my sins so that I don’t have to earn salvation. Help me to be more like you, Jesus.

Embracing Change and Leaning Into Discomfort

Let’s be honest: change is scary.

But, I believe it is necessary for our growth.

That could mean leaving a friend group, taking a new job, joining a new bible study, moving to a new city, getting out of a relationship, and the list goes on.

Before I fully placed my faith and trust in Jesus, I kept trying to go inward (never a good idea) and figure out what was next in my life.

For the first time in my life, I was experiencing crippling anxiety that made me not want to get out of bed in the morning. Anxiety is not a disease, it is something that comes when we try to carry burdens on our own instead of trusting God to lead, provide, and sustain us.

This aligns with verses like 1 Peter 5:7, which says, "Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you," and Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I was trying to carry the burdens myself, and I’m weak in my flesh, so it didn’t go very well.

Growing up I had heard the gospel, but it wasn’t until I was 23 years old that it hit me that the sin I was living in was crippling me and I would never be able to experience true freedom, joy, or purpose until I fully surrendered my life to Christ and let His grace transform me from the inside out.

Surrender is not an easy thing to do; it means giving up control and letting God steer the ship in the direction He has for our lives.

This year has brought more change than any other time I can remember in my life, and I would be lying if I said it has been easy. But, rather than trying to hold on to old ways of thinking, beliefs, behaviors, a profession, or groups of people, I know that God has been working with purpose and intention and has me right where He needs me to be.

If you’re feeling anxious, stress, or worry in a season where you are experiencing a lot of change, here are three things you can do:

1. Pray and Surrender Your Worries to God

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
— Start each day by bringing your concerns to God, trusting that He is in control and will provide the peace you need.

2. Meditate on God’s Promises

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
— Spend time in Scripture, reminding yourself of God's faithfulness. Write down promises like Romans 8:28 or Psalm 23 to focus on when anxiety creeps in.

3. Take One Step at a Time in Faith

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
— Embrace change by focusing on the present moment, doing the next right thing, and trusting that God will guide you each step of the way.

Change can be scary, but is necessary to grow in our walk with the Lord.

Resilience Through Christ

One year ago I was recovering from a cardiac arrest where I was flatline dead for 2.5 minutes, and if it hadn’t been for this off-duty firefighter who was at the track that day, and a friend who was also there who alternated CPR on me, I would be dead.

Today, I am traveling to Arizona to run the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim to Rim, a total of ~42 miles. I say this not to boast about my own strength, but to show how resilient we can be when we have the Spirit of God.

I am grateful for the trials God has divinely put me through so that I can use the body He gave me to put on display His work.

James 1:2-4 says "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

God uses trials to develop resilience and maturity in our faith.

You don’t have to go run the Grand Canyon to develop resilience in your faith, but doing things that challenge us physically, mentally, and spiritually helps forge that resilience and deepen our relationship with Christ.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord, thank you for the trials that challenge us to lean more heavily on you and less on ourselves. You have created in us a new heart and a Spirit of resilience that we never could on our own. Help me to worship you in spirit and in truth and speak to me through Your word so that I can carry out the plans You have for my life.

Amen.

Know others who want to grow in their faith, optimize their health, and live a biblically sound life according to God’s word? Share this and let’s grow His Kingdom!

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