When this Becoming More series began, I planned post titles from January to December. This week’s post wasn’t one of them.

Things change.

In fact, a tug on my resistance to change was becoming more persistent in my heart. I sensed God pursuing my need to let some things go and let His peace in.

The tug was there to teach me.

I can treat a new development in my life like an intrusion or like an illusion — or I can lean into God’s grace and grow.

With or without our permission, our relationships, careers, health or even our location, may shift away from the familiar. Eventually, change comes to us all.

It comes intruding upon our happiness or surprising us in ways we thought would never happen.

As adjustments are required in my parenting, with my writing goals and my workout routine, I can pray, plan and put some things into action.

But if I think I’m in control of every outcome, that’s an illusion.

So much for the intrusion and illusion response to change. Here’s the growth part.

Becoming more by God’s grace means becoming less defined by what I feel.

When I’m less rigid about my plans, I become more open to His.

When I’m less fearful of my tomorrow, I can trust Him today.

When I’m less insistent on having all the answers, I can give Him all my heart because God doesn’t change.

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. (James 1:17 NLT)

We can strain to see anything good or perfect when a transition is tough.

I can sit in the shifting shadows of what’s no longer the same or I can live in the Light of the God who never changes.

It’s a moment by moment decision.

Under the cover of shifting shadows, fear or pride forms a welcoming seat. If I sit there, I become controlled by what’s new or what went wrong.

However, the light of God’s liberating truth pierces the darkness and changes what needs changing in me.

Instead of being rigid or resentful, I discover making major or minor adjustments can be a good thing.

In fact, it’s a needful thing; especially, when change means turning what’s foreign or familiar into something more fruitful.

Hindrances to move forward may feel weighty and impossible to move. But as I lean into God’s grace, I know it’s time for me to grow.

I become more aware of His Presence.

I become more obedient to His will.

I become more courageous by His power.

The tug on my heart taught me how to unwrap a few more of God’s good and perfect gifts. I pray you have too — because we can always discover new levels of hope for the heart and joy to the soul.

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2 NLT)