What If the Change You Didn’t Choose Is Exactly What You Needed?
Updated: Sep 28
It’s beginning to look like fall—somewhere. Here in sunny San Diego, however, the calendar may say autumn, but the weather hasn't quite received the memo. Still, I started putting up my fall decorations, and it feels good. Maybe it’s because there is something refreshing about newness. A new season. A new beginning. And oh, so many new possibilities to be had.
Some would say that change is uncomfortable, but there are also benefits that come along with embracing something new. When we open ourselves up to new experiences, we also open ourselves up to unexpected opportunities that cultivate resilience and enhance our personal growth.
Embracing change fertilizes the soil that enhances adaptability which allows us to navigate unforeseen circumstances that arise in our lives. Although these situations may not always be welcomed, they can lead us to the next chapter in our lives that can be a blessing in disguise.
What if quitting that job was just the door you needed to go through?
What if letting go of that toxic relationship created space for something healthier?
What if saying no to something that was not life-giving was exactly what you needed to heal, grow, and thrive?
We don't always choose the change, but we can choose how we respond to it.
For instance, losing a job isn’t what most people want, however it may just be the push we need to get us to where we do want to be. What if you’ve been at a dead-end job and have been thinking about finding a better one – someday. Well, that day has finally arrived, my friend.
I’m sure we can all recall circumstances that have occurred in our lives, and looking back those changes got us outside our comfort zone, where growth happened.
Sometimes change is something we create on our own, and through that change, we develop the skills needed for a more fruitful life. What if I quit a job for a job I thought would lead to a career path, yet it came out short. It wasn’t what I expected. It’s not the end of the journey. It’s just the opportunity I needed to get back up, build that resilience, and explore the next “what if?”
What if that closed door was making room for something I didn’t know I needed?
As I think about my own career journey, for instance, I remember leaving a job in search of a new opportunity. Little did I know that that one shift would not only lead me to a more fulfilling position, but set me up for a promising career path. But, the icing on the cake, or better yet, the blessing I didn’t expect, was that that would be where I’d meet my future husband. Those unforeseen developments were welcomed and helped me grow both personally and professionally. They created a path that strengthened my ability to go with the flow. It enhanced my problem-solving skills, sparked creativity within me, and it heightened my self-awareness.
Change can stretch us emotionally, but learning to adapt can also strengthen our resilience. When we navigate something unfamiliar, we may discover that we are more capable than we thought. We learn new ways of thinking, problem-solving, and responding, and sometimes that growth can have a positive impact on our emotional well-being. We may even discover strengths within ourselves that we hadn't realized we had.
Seasons come and seasons go, and change comes along. Leaves change, temperatures shift, and eventually we find ourselves in a new season—whether we planned for it or not. Maybe life is much the same way.
And perhaps that's one of the unexpected gifts of change: discovering that we are capable of more than we thought.
Maybe I didn’t see my circumstances as a choice when I was living in survival mode. Looking back, those early constant changes only pushed me to do what needed to be done. Maybe you have experienced that in your life, too.
I am grateful for the summer weather, and for the fall season ahead. I welcome the newness of the autumn leaves and the cooler weather. I see the potential of the unexpected benefits that arrive at our doorstep.
By opening ourselves up to new experiences, we welcome the possibilities of what can be. We set ourselves up to participate in new adventures and the beautiful aspects of life that can lead to a more meaningful and abundant life.
So, what might change look like for you in this season—and what could be waiting for you on the other side of it if you choose to embrace the change?
Ultimately, we all long to live a life that is meaningful and not simply survive the changes life brings. Personally, I want to remain open to what God may be doing in and through them—to grow, to heal, to learn, and to live more fully.
Life may bring about constant change, but growth is optional. It’s not mandatory. You have the power to learn and grow from an experience. You also have the option to stay where you are, in your comfort zone.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10
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