Change part 2

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

We all have favorite books. Both those that we've written and those that we've read. When we write a manuscript we have the ability to change the course of the story with the stroke of a key. By hitting control A and delete we can completely erase and entire story. I have done that. Sometimes just for fun or the shock value of seeing it all disappear. Control Z brings it back again.

With only a few keys I can reword something or completely erase it. I can change a characters name, their family situation, even whether they live or die.

But in a book that someone else wrote I do not have the ability to do that. If I could...what changes would I make? If I could write in the margins and make the changes I want to see what would I change? In some books it would be little more than a characters name. In others I might rewrite half the book. Or I might replace the hero with another because I do not think the one in the book made a good hero.

Luckily for us authors readers do not have the ability to make changes to our stories. That would become chaos that would never end. And our stories would wind up looking nothing like the manuscript we spent hours laboring over.

Change comes in real life too. It's easy to see and I'm pretty sure everyone will admit to going through it. Little changes. Big changes. There's no getting around them. No stopping them. They just happen. And they keep happening. Some we want. Some we don't. Some we can see coming.

Some we would erase if we could.

But what do we do when we are powerless to stop what could become a big change that we don't want?

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

 for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

 So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

 In all your ways acknowledge him,

and he will make straight your paths.

 Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 3:1-7

And while we're doing that...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

For change will come whether we want it or not. In our lives. In the lives of our characters. Sometimes it just happens. Sometimes we see it coming. Sometimes we fall into it. And sometimes we walk into it with open eyes knowing in advance that it's coming but we chose to travel that path anyway. 

All we can do is hang onto the Lord, pray hard, and know that in the end He has bigger plans for us than we can ever know.