I'm a lover of structure and stability, but is that how the world works? Yes and no, because we can plan for ourselves, create an agenda, and suddenly experience a shift. I will focus on two aspects of changes. In life we experience external changes such as physical changes, changes in finances, decision making, and so on. We also experience internal changes due to emotional changes and spiritual growth or what some call "spiritual awakening". The term changes can be discussed a lot further, but my two focal points will be external and internal changes. Changes are healthy and a part of God’s plan for your life!

Changes are inevitable, and that’s because we live in a world that revolves around changes. The seasons change, climate and weather change, our human bodies change as we age, our mindsets, emotions, and everything around us change consistently. As a lover of structure, stability, and consistency, I wish we can freeze time sometimes. While writing I recall one of my favorite Disney movies , "The Incredibles". Frozone is my favorite character, and I wish I had the ability to freeze precious moments and times to preserve them longer. But, fortunately, the world we live in consists of changes and humanity having little control of deciding about what should change or not. Fortunately, we can’t freeze time , because I’ve discovered that changes are necessary and good for everyone.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 , it says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven : a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot".  In life changes are seen and experienced on a daily basis. The two most important changes in life and rarely discussed are found in the two most important dates found in our timelines which are birth and death. Prior to being born, you experienced changes in your mother’s womb. After birth, and throughout your life you will experience changes. I'd like to congratulate you for mastering the art of life called changes. I find it interesting how humanity experiences changes throughout life and oftentimes may experience fear or anxiety when having to make decisions or the simple thought of change. 

Without changes, we don't experience growth, maturity, success, nor fulfillment. We need to experience changes and transitions which lead us to our final destination. Some changes can be controlled or modified, but some cannot. What changes can we control, prevent, or delay or advance? Finances can be controlled through your work and commitment to studies, work and career goals. You can prevent certain situations from happening, delay them, or advance them. For instance , you can prevent yourself from a recommended dance class by choosing not to register nor attend. You can prevent positive or negative outcomes from occurring in your life but very LIMITED. You cannot control or prevent some car accidents, yourself getting sick, physical changes as you age, growing extra hair, or going bald. You cannot control nor determine your death plan. You cannot control nor determine who you will fall in love with as God already chose that person for you. As Ecclesiastes 3 states, there is a time and season for every activity under heaven.

Externally we manage a lot such as our daily to do’s , work responsibilities, families , children, grandchildren, and all life responsibilities. Those daily to do’s, families and children are the ones likely to be impacted by finances, decisions, sickness, and all changes that are experienced in life. Majority of the changes we experience externally may or may not feel as if they are the best at the moment, but in the long run they are. The changes we experience always lead to greater things. Externally, those around us will feel the impacts of the changes occurring, and that is safe and healthy. Without shifts, you cannot reach your destination. God will never allow you to go through something to abandon you. He permits every shift and takes care of all your surroundings as he moves you, promotes you, and assigns you to a new level, role, position, home, etc.

Internally we may battle with certain questions , doubts, or confusion in the process of change. Having questions is healthy, but I encourage you to trust God's plan. His plans for you are plans of goodness. Whether you understand certain changes or not in your life, trust and DO NOT FEAR. In Proverbs 19:21, it says "Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails". You may have self made plans and goals, but the Lord's plans for your life are called "PURPOSE" for a reason. Internal changes can be felt at heart , body, mind, soul, and spirit. The changes you experience are meant to help you experience clarity and deep fulfillment.

When we plan for ourselves, we have the ability to plan well, and plan accordingly. But, sometimes, those plans don't align with your destiny, and they fail. Failure doesn’t signify that you’re not ready for more or that you’ve failed ,but instead it signifies that there’s a better plan for you to discover and achieve . That's why sometimes you'll experience a shift in your life and things will begin to turn around, change slowly or rapidly, gently or abruptly. Why? Because change is meant to occur throughout our lifetimes. Change will continue to occur until you encounter your TRUE PURPOSE prior to experiencing some stability, consistency, and goodness. To encounter your true purpose, you must pass life processes and molding. 

I'll share one of my favorite examples as I discuss eagles and their rebirth process. Eagles have a long life span of about 70 years. Through their years of life, their sharp beaks begin to bend. They have long and beautiful feathers that are also heavy and when old aged, they stick to the eagle's chest making it difficult to fly. Think of the heaviness of eagle feathers as the heaviness that you can experience in life due to pressure, painful processes, and the people in it that may add more pain into your life. Eagles have two options when their feathers make it almost impossible for them to fly. They can choose to die or encounter the painful process of CHANGE. An eagle that seeks change and survival must fly to their nest which requires solitude and the beginning of their changes. Then an eagle also will knock its beak against a rock until its beak is plucked out. Once the beak is plucked out, a new one will grow. The growth of a new beak requires time and patience, the patience I pray you begin to outgrow in your new journey of healing , transformation, and changes. Once an eagle grows its new beak, it begins to pluck out its talons. The new talons grow out and then an eagle begins to pluck out its feathers. Think of yourself plucking out your “feathers” one by one as you begin your journey towards changes, adaption, and fulfillment.

You can be an eagle! An eagle goes through a painful process to encounter change. The change you may be experiencing or seeking may be physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, financial, romantically, and so on. The only person that knows the changes you are experiencing or will experience is YOU. As you experience change, know that every successor must pass through a process that requires decision making, pain, tears, sacrifices, and acceptance. Without change and without the courage to accept change, you cannot reach your final destination.

In life we can view multiple examples of changes leading to beauty. Think about a caterpillar that was once a tiny little insect before its metamorphosis process as it becomes a butterfly. Think about that piece of coal that looks dark and useless, but becomes a diamond when pressed in heat. Think about a pearl, and its formation. A pearl is a temple built by pain around a grain of sand. What longing built our bodies and around what grains? as quoted by Kahlil Gibran.  A pearl cannot become a pearl without passing excruciating pain. All great things come to those who wait, but all great things come to those who accept change and receive it with grace.

I've learned to not prevent changes, but to welcome them and embrace them. Every change I've experienced in life, has led me to something greater and bigger that I hadn't seen nor imagined. I've learned to accept changes with love, peace, and understanding that God is always in control. We cannot control the world. What we can control is how we react to change, and how flexible we can be with ourselves. In Luke 12:32, it says "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom". Be reminded that God permits changes and will shift you prior to giving you the kingdom. 

Don't be too hard on yourselves fighting against the changes meant to happen. Allow changes to occur while trusting that God is with you. God will never forsake you nor abandon you. Do you think eagles feel joy in the midst of their changes and rebirth cycle? Fear is natural, and normalizing negative emotions is necessary sometimes. Do not prevent the changes meant to lead you to your final destination and true success. The word success should place finances in a capsule. Success can also signify health, love, peace, and the many blessings God has in store for you.