5 Signs You Have the Right Attitude About Change

The new year is just around the corner—2016! I’m looking at this year, not sure what it’s going to hold, but definitely seeing some major changes that will come. Before I know it, we’ll be launching into the spring semester and all that that entails.

Change can feel good or bad. Most often, we don’t know what change will bring with it, if it will feel good or bad—and the uncertainty can be terrifying.

Last night, my sister and I were talking about change. We both know it’s coming. So how do we prepare for it? How do we be like the Proverbs 31 woman and “laugh at the future”? (Proverbs 31:25)

Here are 5 signs that you have the right attitude going into this new year.

1.     You’re not afraid.

You’re not afraid of the future because you know you can trust God. He has a perfect plan for you that is for your good and His glory (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28). Being afraid of change is a sign that you lack faith in God’s promises, God’s goodness, God’s sovereignty, and even His love for you.

“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace because he trusts in You.”

Isaiah 26:3

Yes, it’s normal and human to be afraid of change and the future, but if you think about it, it’s really silly that we ever are afraid because God is in control.

2.     You find your joy in Christ.

If your joy is rooted in Christ, no matter what circumstances come your way—no matter the trials—you will be able to be joyful even in the midst of change. 

It’s very easy to find our “joy” in our circumstances—but that’s not joy, That’s happiness. You can tell if you have true joy anchored in Jesus or just circumstantial happiness by if whether or not you can smile and praise Him even in the hard times.

Finding your joy in Christ means you can glorify Him when everything’s out of order and when everything’s in order. I love the lyrics in Blessed Be Your Name by Matt Redman.

You give and take away,

You give and take away,

My heart will choose to say,

Lord blessed be Your Name.

3.     Jesus is the center of your life.

If Jesus is at the center of your life, it doesn’t really matter what on earth happens, whether good or bad. If you get married and Jesus is at the center of your life, you will find your marriage far more fulfilling and lasting than if not. If your best friend gets in a car wreck, you know that Jesus will give you comfort and care for your hurting heart.

Jesus is all we need, so if we live like it and believe it, everything will stay in perspective.

4.     You’re busy with ministry.

You’re not sitting around the house crying for the upcoming change. You’re rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty serving God and serving people. 

When you’re busy with ministry, again, change will stay in perspective. Serving in ministry helps you see other people’s struggles and see the bigger picture, which leads to this next point.

5.     You’re focused on others and what they’re going through.

Are you the most important person in the world? Nope. In fact, we’re supposed to consider ourselves the least important person in the world. When we’re focused on others, we don’t have enough time to mope about our own problems and the scary changes we’re facing. We realize that other people are fighting battles worse than ours.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Philippians 2:3-4

Do you have the right attitude about change? Which points do you have down, and which ones do you need to work on? Share in the comments!