Change and Identity

"For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." ~ Colossians 3:3

Lately I have been thinking a lot about the reality change. I’ve decided that my perception of it is more fickle than I ever realized. While some changes are very good things, others often don't feel like they are at all. Either way, change is a part of life that no one can ignore and everyone must experience. But I don’t know how to process change as well as I would like to sometimes and I think the reason for this is not really a fear of change but an issue of identity.

To often as humans we fear the loss we will experience by letting something go, but unless we let go, our hands—metaphorically speaking—cannot be open to embrace something else. But the only way that something new can be as pleasant to us as something old is if our identity is not dependent on our circumstances and relationships. Not that there is anything wrong with treasuring relationships or locations or possessions in a certain way, and it is only healthy to feel the absence of a good thing when you no longer have it. But I am realizing that as a Christian it is not where I live, or the things I own, or even the people that I am with (and have came to love, like, find entertainment in, and be encouraged by). As a Christian my life is hidden in Christ; and living in fellowship with Him is and will only ever be my truest and deepest and purest peace and joy and contentment and security.

So while as I sit here right now and happen to be at the edge of a very big change in my life (http://ahodsonfamily.blogspot.com/2010/04/greetings.html) and experience some sadness deep in my heart, I encourage myself to look beyond this moment to a far bigger reality. I am a child of the King, a son of God, a sinner forgiven by the grace of God through the power of Christ, and no one can separate me from the love of God. It is because of this love and this relationship that I can have peace and joy no matter where I am and no matter what I am doing. It is because of this relationship that I can rest assured that God will continue to work in my heart and life as well as in the hearts and lives of all the people that I met along my journey through this life, and He will perfect all those who are His children until we are finally united to Christ without sin and without sorrow.

When I find my identity in Christ then change is only really a very small and temporal thing. I love my family and my friends and I am sad when ever I cannot be near to some of them that I might be nearer to others, but I know that God will continue to provide for all of my needs and for all of the needs of those I leave behind. I know His people are everywhere and so is His presence. I know that if you too are His, my dear brother or sister, we will met again in only a short time and rejoice together in the prefect plan and timing of God in all the things that he brought us through in our lives! I take great comfort in all these things.

That is all my thoughts for now! :)