7.01.2012

Guest Post by Talia: Change

It came as a total shock.

My youth pastor walked into our Sunday School class and we all found our seats as usual. I greeted my friend cheerfully, but her face was downcast. "What's wrong?" I asked. "You'll find out later," she said. My youth pastor pulled out a letter and began to read.

It was a letter saying he was resigning as the youth pastor.

I didn't know what to do. I felt like crying (some of the kids were crying), and I kept rubbing my eyes and trying not to look at him or anybody else. I busied myself doodling and "writing notes" that went along with the teaching on Ephesians 2 that shortly followed. But the whole time, all I could think about was the fact that he is leaving. Leaving. Moving. In six weeks. He's been my youth pastor for four years, and my sister and I have become very plugged into the youth group. I couldn't ask for a better youth pastor. He is solid in his faith, admits his faults, and has a very strong relationship with the LORD.

It's official: I don't like change. Change scares me...and saddens me, especially. There are little things in my life that I've always known or had (or, at least, for a while)...things that have stayed the same, things that I look forward to every week...like youth group. It's one of my favorite places to be every week. I absolutely love it, and being in this youth group has really strengthened my faith. We have all grown together as a group, and our youth group is very solid in the Lord.

It scares me that in just six weeks, my youth pastor will no longer be my youth pastor. He feels strongly called by God to move and attend Bible Seminary (I don't know much about it). He feels led to keep preaching, which I am very glad about. It scares me that we will have a new youth leader that will potentially not be as strong in his faith as our current youth pastor is. It scares me that our youth group could potentially change, too, because I don't want that at all.

It is hard for me to grasp, but sometimes God puts us through hard times and times of change for a reason. I believe that God has a great plan for our youth pastor's life, as well as each of our lives, and maybe He will help us grow in faith through the new youth pastor. Who knows?

A few years ago, one of my best friends moved away. I was SO sad! (why wouldn't I be, right? I mean, she's my best friend!) But having the distance between us has helped us...strangely, it has actually helped our friendship grow. We still keep in contact through letters, FaceTime, phone calls, and especially emails and texts (like, on an everyday basis), and when we see each other, it is nothing but fun. Being away from my best friend has made us closer friends. We cherish our friendship even more.

Maybe you're going through a change right now - moving to a new house, someone you love is moving away, someone passed away or is sick...etc. But remember this: God is always with you, and He has a great plan for your life. He knows what He's doing. Trust that He's got you in His arms, and know that He can use the obstacles and changes you go through to bring you closer to Him.

“But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
{2 Thessalonians 3:3}

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
{Jeremiah 29:11-13}

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Hey, I'm Talia...a teen writer with a passion for photography and a love for Christ. I am a born-again Christian, and I want to grow closer to God each day. I am definitely imperfect, but God says to come to Him as I am, and He can use me and change me just the same.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Talia! I needed this! GREAT JOB! It's wonderfully written! :)

    Love, Haley <3

    ReplyDelete

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