The first time I heard the statement, There is no change if there is no change, I thought it redundant. But after the Holy Spirit explained it to me I saw the value of this truth: If you want tomorrow to be different from yesterday, you must do something different today – different as in doing something better.
It has been theorized if one can change their situation things will be better. Testing this theory has proven time and time again the opposite is more often true. Situational change is usually temporary change at best.
This is not complicated, but is best understood through Illustration. This thinking is often fundamental in people who do not know how to deal with their immediate problems.
In fact, King David, as reported in Psalm 55:6-8 arrived at this conclusion: “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove for then would I fly away, and be at rest. Lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness. Selah. I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.”
But sometime after this declaration, Scripture does not tell us when, David had a change of mind and/or a change of heart. For in Psalm 55-16 we read: “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save (Hebrew: yasha: to be safe, get victory) me.”
In fact, by not making a situational change, David had such victory he began teaching others his approach to dealing with difficult situations as we read in Psalm 55:22: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved” (Hebrew: mowt: to waiver, to slip, to fall).
What are we not saying? We are not ruling out legitimate moves. At age 80 I’m not carrying newspapers as I did at age 11 or living in the same house where I was born. But we are being consistent in our primary teaching: If the sole reason you change jobs, addresses or relationships is to make things better, generally speaking these are measures rendering temporary relief at best.
If a job change is necessary leave it in good order so if need be you could go back to that position. If moving is necessary leave that location in good order. Resolve the issues you think warrant leaving before you leave. Otherwise you simply carry them with you when you go elsewhere. This lesson does not apply to the leaving or ending of all relationships. At New Hope Counseling Service we handle these issues Scripturally.
Next time we will deal with the third level of change: The Substantial Level of Change
