Change

I read a book over twenty years ago titled “Inside Out”. What I remember most about the book was that I was not ready to turn inside out. I was one year on the other side of a difficult divorce and I already felt wrung out! But, something was urging me to read it. So, I would cuddle up with the book every night, at the end of the day. Taking positive God centered thoughts to bed was my guarantee of a good night sleep!

Somewhere midway in the book I came across this quote, “When does change occur? Change occurs when the fear of the change is equal to the fear”. These words were so profound that they propelled me to get out of bed and write them down. As I copied the words I thought this is so true! In every single aspect of my life, regardless of the issue or circumstance, I did not change my behavior until my discomfort with the situation was acute and painful enough that it forced me to make a change.

Over the years I have reflected on this quote and I have shared it with others and it never fails that when I share it, the person listening will respond, “Say that again, please”. I share it with you now because the phase popped into my head as I was crying on my way home at the end of the day. I had met with a patient and his daughter who were two of the most bitter, unpleasant people I’ve run across in a very long time! They were nasty and had nothing good to say about any aspect of the father’s care. Lord Help! I could hardly wait to leave his room. I have always been able to “pour oil on churning waters” (as the old folks say) but not this time! Work had been difficult for six months. I felt stressed most days no matter how hard I prayed and turned the situation over to God.

It was during the release of tears that God dropped the phrase into my spirit again. Change occurs when the fear of the change is equal to the pain! Tired of the traffic, tired of mean people, sick and tired of being tired! (Pain, pain, pain) THEN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

I spent the next few hours thinking I would start looking for a new job. That’s when the Holy Spirit said, “You don’t need to look for a new job. You need to open your own business”! The more I thought about it the better it sounded and I shared the idea with my family and closest Christian friends.

Now, Consulting for Change, the name of my new business, is more than a dream; it’s about to become a reality! Isn’t that just like God to move us into the next phase or stage of our lives through adversity?