How do I best adapt to change? - Adapt/adaptable - TouchPoints

Ecclesiastes 3:11Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

Daniel 2:21He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars.

Acts 1:7He replied, "The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.

Matthew 24:32-33"Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. [33] In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door.

Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

It is wise to adapt to the cycles of change. When we recognize life’s seasons, we will be more equipped to adapt to them. But in adapting to change, we must not compromise the changeless truths in life. Though our God orchestrates many changes in our world, our lives, and our hearts, he himself remains the same.

James 1:2-4Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Romans 5:3-5We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. [4] And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. [5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Times of trouble, which lead to the testing of our faith and the increasing of our endurance, help to strengthen our character, deepen our relationship with God, and prepare us for whatever the future holds. Instead of giving up in times of change and challenge, we can seek to grow.

Proverbs 19:2Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

Proverbs 25:8don't be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?

1 Timothy 5:22Never be in a hurry about appointing a church leader. Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

Wise people are knowledgeable and deliberate regarding options. Don’t race your lifestyle into high speed when your brain is still in neutral. You will not adapt well to circumstances around you.

Jonah 1:1-3; 3:1-3The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh.” . . . But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish . . . Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.

We are to adapt with obedience regardless of our personal opinions. The best way to adapt to change is to adapt to the Author of all change. When God wants us to change, we can be confident in our best interests, because he knows and wants what is best for us.

Genesis 12:1, 4The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.” . . . So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed.

Hebrews 11:8It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

James 4:13-15Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." [14] How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog-it's here a little while, then it's gone. [15] What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."

Psalm 119:105Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. [6] Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

We don’t need to know all the details of God’s plan for us in order to adapt to it. Full knowledge of all of the details is not a necessity for obedience. Sometimes, adapting to God’s way means stepping forward in faith. Just as a lantern lights the path enough for us to take the next step, God provides us the direction we need to take our next step in following him. We may not know where each step is leading, but we don’t have to—he knows, and we can trust his leading.

Exodus 14:15-16Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.”

Sometimes we must adapt quickly. There’s a time to stop and pray and a time to pray on the run.

Job 12:12Wisdom belongs to the aged, and understanding to the old.

Psalm 92:14-15Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green. [15] They will declare, "The LORD is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him!"

2 Corinthians 4:16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.

Titus 2:2-3Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. [3] Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good.

Psalm 71:18Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

2 Corinthians 5:2-5We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.

Having an eternal perspective towards our physical changes helps us to adapt to the aging process. Though our bodies may fade and weaken, we are also given new opportunities to adapt and contribute. The maturity, wisdom, and experience we have gained over the years gives us something valuable to pass on to the next generation.Rather than dwelling on the pains and frustrations of aging, we can accept aging as part of earth’s graduation ceremony.

1 Corinthians 10:1I don’t want you to forget, dear brothers and sisters, about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago. All of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of them walked through the sea on dry ground.

God has brought each of us through change before, and he promises to do so again. Sometimes he uses “time honored” methods to take us through change. Other times he uses radically innovative ways, including miracles, to help us through radically challenging change.

Philippians 4:6-7Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. [7] Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.