C.H.A.N.G.E.

I came across this image of a new tree breaking out of and growing within the old one. There are so many elements to this image:

The original tree

I can imagine that this original plant has a root system that is secure and strong. I can imagine it has been around for a long period of time and faced the wind and the elements. I can imagine it was beautiful or perhaps it was majestic.

The broken apart original tree

Change is exciting. New things are exhilarating. Fresh seasons are renewing, but something always has to give, in order for change to become a reality. Something has to fall away or break off or be left behind in order for something new to be implemented. Something has to be sacrificed or surrendered, for the new to be embraced. Something sometimes has to die for the new to come alive. This is hard. This is painful. This hurts. This takes time. This can be ugly and messy. This is change.

The new tree

New life, new fruit, new things. As the new tree begins and continues to grow within the original tree, it solidifies its roots, it establishes its foundations, it takes its stand. It is blossoming with green leaves, a strong trunk and many branches. But its not quite on its own yet. Change takes time. Change is a process. Change takes courage, patience and agility.

-When walking through seasons of change, I always remind myself to take the good from the original space. To take a moment to consider what I’ve learnt in that original space and to equip and encourage myself with tools and perspectives I have gained in the original space.

-I also know that I need to surrender. That I need to sacrifice. That I need to let things go in order to take hold of the new. That I need to leave things behind in order to run into the new space with an open heart, a teachable spirit and a positive perspective.

-Lastly, I need to be kind to myself, as change is a process and takes time.

What season are you in at the moment?

Are you in an original space, established, secure, unchanged? Or are you in a transition place, with one foot in the old and one foot in the new? What do you need to let go of and sacrifice and surrender in order to walk into a spacious place? Or perhaps you’re in a honeymoon season of the new. The fresh, exciting, fruitful sweetness of exhilarating change. No matter where you are in the process of change, God says in Isaiah 43:1 & 5, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” “Fear not, for I am with you; ” He knows every detail and every step and our belonging is in Him. He is with us every moment on the journey.

So I encourage you to be courageous, be excited, be careful, be intentional, be patient and be brave as you venture the seasons of change!