Tuesday, August 19, 2008
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" You've Changed!"...For the Better or For the Worse?
Has anyone ever said to you, "Wow, you've changed"?
Did they mean it in a good way or a bad way?
When I first moved out of the city and back into the suburbs with my family, my mom noticed a change in my behavior - particularly whenever I drove. I really can't stand bad drivers and unfortunately, New Jersey is chock full of them. So anytime I would drive, I'd end up yelling at some jerk who cut me off or was driving too slow. And each time, my mom would say, "You've changed. You're so mean now."
Of course, I didn't like hearing this, but in hindsight I realize it was true. The city had made me a little tougher and meaner, and it had affected more than just my driving. I was dissatisfied with my life, I hated where I was (literally. NJ was not for me!), and I was generally very negative about everything. I should probably add that I was being pretty flaky with God then too.
Fast forward to yesterday: I've been attending my church for about 10 months now, and my small group has heard all the ups and downs of my life in that time. Yesterday I shared that because of a shift in my priorities, I was deferring my career change/Masters Degree plans. These days I feel happy with where I am in life, with my friendships, and especially with my service in the church. Life isn't perfect, but it's far more fulfilling than it was a year ago and I can a little longer wait to make a life-altering career change. As I shared with my group, I asked for prayers for my job situation, because I need to leave my part-time position and find a full-time opportunity. I ended by saying, "but I'm not worried about it."
Immediately, my group leader/friend shouted, "Wow! Can we just videotape you saying this right now?! You're completely different!" He had noticed how I had clearly changed over the past 10 months; I went from worrying, being stressed, and negative to relaxed, trusting the Lord, and enjoying life! It's pretty crazy, and his comment took me by surprise at first, but he is right. I've changed, and it's a good thing this time; it's evidence that God has been doing something in my life.
The external factors haven't changed much - I didn't find the perfect job, I'm not suddenly a millionaire, nor have I found my soulmate, but I'm happy and at peace. What's changed is that I'm participating in Christian community and connecting with God regularly again. And it's those small, subtle connections with God and his people that have added up to this 180° change in my attitude.
So has anyone noticed changes in you recently? Are they good or bad?
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Comments (10)
I hope I'm changing into what God wants me to be. I know that I'm growing in my trust for God lately, not because of anything I've done, but because He's given me so much grace. It is wonderful to see changes sometimes. Life seems so gradual that we don't always see what God is doing in our lives. It's great when someone else points it out and we can notice that something significant is happening.
Good post.
My friends have noticed both good and bad changes in me recently. The good is that I've realized over the past 10 months (an interesting coincidence to the original blogger) that money doesn't buy happiness and that nothing could feel better than the love I get from my girlfriend of 8 months (we dated years ago as well, but were immature and have since realized where we messed up). The bad though is that I have less patience for my work teammates and sometimes I get TOO down on being far from home a lot, which ultimately bleeds into my relationship with my girlfriend. To end on a good note, I'm aware of the problem and with her prayers and my continued effort, we'll see the other side of this ASAP!
Great post! Yes- someone said this to me just the other day. I had not really noticed but I have changed and for the good! My life is not at all great- far from it. It's ok though and that is something I have said over and over before, it was only recently that that I started to believe it.
if anyone has noticed changes, they haven't said anything. i've noticed a change in myself...... i'm not as flaky, dramatic, or easily upset as i used to be. i've stopped caring what others think of me, and i've stopped blaming myself for things i cannot fix. i'd say that's a really great change =)
Well, Praise God for your change! I want to share a story about some change that took place in my life about a year ago. I was attending a church that was dominated by a religious spirt. The women were treated like second class citizens and the men reinged.While I was there I wasn't allowed to wear pants, makeup, jewlery, RED and restricted in many way. The congregation (including myself) was very judgemental of others and other denominations withing Christianity. I've been delivered from that place and I can SEE how people that wanted nothing to do with me before will now talk to me. They have told me that I am down to earth now and show the LOVE and compassion of Christ where before I was very judgemental.
It's always a blessing when we are able to see how far God has brought us and how much He has blessed us to grow closer and closer to what He wants us to be.
Your change is evidence of the Holy Spirirt within you.
Sure, mum always says this to me ... well most of the time she says it a bad way .. lol I can even easily spot out the actual meaning she syas this to me that she thinks I always turn into a deteriorating progress in my personlaity mainly bazed on the wy I respond. Well it's kinda ... weird you know? Everyone's changing. If there's anyone not changing ever in this world every minute, it just means that that person does not grow at all ... XD then whenever it comes ot mum blaming me such way, I would smirk 'cause I don't quite agree with what she says to me that I shouldn't change you know?! Ha then it's just nonsense ... but I know that whenever I'm blamed on this, I should have reflect mtyself whether there's anything I've done not quite correctly. Anyway, after all no one's always true and correct.
I think so, and I don't know.
Thanks for the encouraging post! Being connected to God makes so much of a difference. I haven't noticed any dramatic changes in me, but I can see several ways in which he has been growing me slowly but surely. I'm usually more patient with my family, I'm more willing to be open about God, and I care more about lost people than I did. Praise God!
recently people has been telling me I've changed for the better... but really i feel like if there's good changes, then we'd need to get ready for battle.... as the devil would most likely want to take you down if u're getting closer to God and making an impact.