How do we handle life changes?

When life happens – and changes – how do we handle it?  When things change for the better, such as getting a job promotion, we can easily praise God and express our gratitude.  Conversely, we can easily get lost in our successes and possibly forget how God has blessed our path.  What do we do when our life seems to fall apart, like losing a job in a troubled economy?  Do we still have that same zeal for God or do we resent the situation? 

As people face struggles, especially financial struggles, sometimes they feel as though withdrawing seems to be the best answer, be it avoiding family, friends, church and/or God.  When people tighten their belts to accommodate shrinking budgets, the feelings of awkwardness can become overwhelming as their limited finances may make it difficult to dine out, enjoy outside entertainment or financially contribute to their church.  The perception of switching roles from a provider to a recipient can be an extremely humbling experience for some people, no matter how temporary the situation.    

Life happens to everyone around us, whether good or bad.  When it comes to our jobs, sometimes we can make the mistake of identifying ourselves with our occupations, instead of our niches and interests in life as well as our relationship with God.  Basically, a job is only a means of supporting ourselves and/or our families, not our ultimate goal in life.  Although people going through hard times may find it difficult to see God’s providence through the process, the Apostle Paul tells us how God may use these circumstances to make us a better person.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.  And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:1-5 NIV) 

Nevertheless, as believers, we need to remember life is a gift and we should be content in whatever situation God places us. (I Timothy 6:6-8)  God will never give us more than we can bear, even though we may not even know our own limits or stamina to endure. (I Corinthians 10:13)  The Prophet Isaiah uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to describe our relationship with God. (Isaiah 64:8)  Whereas, sometimes we just do not know the reason why things happen, but the way we respond to any given situation defines our character.