Walking In His Promise

Handling Change At Work
‘To everything there is a season.’
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
When change happens in the workplace, we often feel threatened. We get used to the personalities of our co-workers and bosses, and we want them to remain in place, stay the same, and require nothing more from us than what we have given in the past. Out of our desire for stability, security, and predictability, we fail to prepare for instability, uncertainty, and surprises. How ironic! If we were willing to adjust our expectations and be more realistic, we wouldn’t be so traumatized when change comes.

Things can change overnight. It may be the loss of a parent, or a job, or your health. Change is the only constant in life. And it has the potential to move you on to better things or flatten you like a steamroller. The choice is yours. ‘To everything there is a season.’ The truth is, God is your only secure anchor in life, so if you’re wise, you will build a strong relationship with Him. Ultimately, He will never allow you to depend on anything but Him.

Here is Elijah’s story: ‘The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning,…and he drank from the brook. And it happened after a while that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land’ (1 Kings 17:6-7 NKJV). Elijah may have panicked, but God didn’t. ‘The word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath…and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you”’ (vv. 8-9 NKJV). Notice what God used to provide for Elijah: ravens, a brook, and a penniless widow. So enjoy your job, excel in it, but depend only on God!

Don’t Worry, God Will Take Care Of You

‘I have not seen the righteous forsaken.’
Psalm 37:25 NKJV
If you’re worried about making ends meet, read on: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand. I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread’ (vv. 23-25 NKJV).

You may be at the cliff’s edge today, but God won’t let you go over it. And if you do, He will catch you. ‘You will have plenty to eat…and you will praise the name of the Lord your God, who has worked wonders for you’ (Joel 2:26 NIV). Stop trying to figure everything out and start leaning on God. ‘Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you’ (Psalm 37:3-5 NLT).

God may not give you everything you want, but He will give you everything you need: ‘Don’t worry about these things, saying, “What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?” These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (Matthew 6:31-33 NLT). ‘Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you’ (Psalm 55:22 NLT). Don’t worry, God will take care of you!

When Life Seems Too Hard

‘Is anything too hard for [me]?’

Genesis 18:14 NKJV

Much of our stress is brought on by our need to know everything ahead of time – to be in control. Even after we pray and supposedly turn the problem over to God, we live by the philosophy ‘hope for the best and plan for the worst’! You don’t put your money into the bank and then stay awake all night worrying about it, right? Well, have at least that much confidence in God!
When you find yourself in the downward spiral of ‘How? What? When? Where?’ stop and give it to God. Not the limited God of your understanding, but the unlimited God whose track record speaks for itself, whose faithfulness never fails, and who has earned the right to ask, ‘Is anything too hard for [me]?’

Jesus never suffered from the fear of failure like we do. Why? Because He never entertained the thought that He couldn’t do something that His Father had assured Him He could do. And He didn’t suffer from the fear of lack, either. Even though He lived a simple life, He was responsible for supporting Himself and a team of others. How did He do it? The Bible says He prayed morning, noon, and night, staying in constant touch with His heavenly Father. Consequently, He knew how to catch fish when they weren’t biting, and even find tax money in a fish’s mouth when He needed it.

Now, God may not provide for you in exactly that way, but He has promised to take care of you. Here is a promise you should live by today: ‘God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him’ (1 Peter 5:7 CEV).