Are you ready for the “change points” in your life?

As we navigate our life journey we all encounter what I call “change points” along the way. These are those life-altering experiences that require or cause us to change how we will go forward.

Right now, I have several friends who are experiencing change points in their lives. Megha is a lovely woman who is married and has two small children. She is also the owner of a small business. That’s how I met her – through an association of which we both are members.

Earlier this week Megha and her assistant Jane drove from Florida to North Carolina to attend some meetings. Megha brought along her infant son for the four-day excursion because of his young age.  While Megha was in the meetings, Jane watched the baby.

On their way back to Florida, while traveling on a busy freeway, a teenage girl was driving and it seems she was texting or using her telephone at the same time. She lost control of her car and crashed into Megha’s vehicle, almost folding it in half!

Fast forward, Jane was banged up, but no broken bones. The baby was injured, but doctors say the recovery will be quick, mostly because babies heal faster than adults. Meanwhile, Mehga suffered serious injuries. Her pelvis and both her hips where shattered, along with lots of critical bangs and bruises. The doctors say she won’t be able to stand for at least two to three months.  Clearly, this is a change point in Megha’s life and the life of her family!

Kim is another friend. Her husband has been ill for a long time, but now it seems that he is on the final leg of his journey here on earth.  I just received a message from Kim reporting that today her husband is in the hospital, but will soon come back home and eventually to be transferred to hospice care. Kim and her husband are experiencing change points in their lives.

Frances is a woman I’ve known for many years. A few weeks ago, I received a message from her husband Brian telling me that he had taken Frances to the doctor for a checkup. About five years ago, she had been diagnosed with cancer and was successfully treated for it. But now, after getting many test results, the doctor told Brian and Frances that the cancer had returned in a very aggressive form and that she likely only had four to six weeks to live. Change points taking place!

So here is why I am sharing these stories with you today. Every life has change points. They come in varied forms. They can be a car accident. The loss of a job.  A serious illness. An unwanted divorce. A death in the family. A financial hardship. Every person’s life will have change points. They happen. They are a given. And we don’t always have control over the change points that will happen to us. And sometimes they are not by our choice!

But what we do have control over . . . and what is our choice . . . is how we live our lives today so when the change points do enter we are better prepared. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

When our faith is strong and we trust God with our lives, we are prepared in the best way for the change points (tribulations) that are part of this world experience. We can go through the encounters with the peace of Christ in our hearts. And we can walk through the storm with assurance that He will see us through. We don’t walk alone. We don’t fear. We don’t get “undone” when we face the sure to come change points in our life.

The key is that we need to always be prepared if we want that peace that passes all understanding to be present in our lives. The peace is available to us, but it is received into our hearts as we love the Lord our God with all our hearts. It comes when we seek first the kingdom of God and His right way of living. It comes when we love Jesus and obey His teachings.

My friend Megha came very close to not surviving the car accident. But her doctors said that her faith played an essential role in her being able to hang on and make it during those critical hours. Megha was prepared. Her faith was strong . . . and even in her physical brokenness her faith is getting stronger every day as she experiences the love of God working in her life.

How about you? How is your faith today?

That’s a question we each should ask ourselves. Are we prepared for the change points that could happen to us when we least expect? Are we working those faith muscles consistently so they stay strong and are ready for when heavy lifting is required?

I hope you are strong in your relationship with God. If not, I encourage you to start today to get stronger in your faith and make sure you are prepared. Your Lord wants you ready! He wants you well-prepared. He wants you to experience the peace that is available to you!

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