When Change Chooses You
Let’s be honest…
We all love talking about change—until it actually shows up uninvited.
There’s a big difference between leading change and being surprised by it.
One feels like vision.
The other feels like whiplash.
And if you’ve been in ministry long enough, you’ve experienced both.
The Myth of the Perfect Bus Ride
We’ve all heard it:
“Get the right people on the bus… and in the right seats.”
Great line. Preaches well. Makes for a strong leadership talk.
But in real life? Seats shift. People grow. Roles change.
And sometimes… the bus takes a turn you didn’t see coming.
Suddenly, what used to fit… doesn’t fit anymore.
And here’s the hard part:
Moving seats is never just strategic—it’s emotional.
It takes humility:
- From leaders who have to make tough calls
- From team members who have to adjust
- From everyone who has to trust the process when it’s not fully explained
When Communication Isn’t Perfect
Let’s go there for a second.
Sometimes communication is clear. Sometimes it’s not.
Sometimes you get a full explanation.
Sometimes you get… silence.
And that gap? That’s where assumptions grow.
But here’s a leadership truth I’ve learned over 50 years:
You don’t need full information to have full trust.
That doesn’t mean we ignore communication—it matters deeply.
But when it’s lacking, maturity fills the gap.
Immaturity says: “Why didn’t they tell me everything?”
Maturity says: “God, what are YOU doing in me through this?”
God Is Doing a New Thing
Isaiah 43:19 says:
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
We love that verse. We quote it. We preach it. We put it on slides.
But we skip the verse right before it:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” (Isaiah 43:18)
Here’s the deal:
You can’t step into a new thing while holding onto an old thing.
God’s new work requires open hands.
And open hands mean… you had to let something go. Something that’s been your identity or that feels comfortable. But that old thing might has become an anchor that’s causing you to be stuck when the Lord saws it’s time to move.
When You Don’t Know Where You’re Going
Let me say something that might free you:
You don’t always need clarity—you need direction.
There are seasons where you won’t have a full map.
No GPS. No step-by-step.
Just a next step.
And in those moments, you go back to what you do know:
- God is faithful
- God is leading
- God is not confused
So what do we do?
We keep our eyes on the Lord.
Not on the changes. Not on the confusion. Not on what we lost.
On Him.
What You Know for Sure
When change hits and clarity is low, here’s what you can anchor to:
- You may not know where you’re going…
- But you do know you can’t go back
And here’s the surprising part:
You don’t actually want to go back.
Even if it felt comfortable, even if it felt successful, even if it felt familiar.
Because growth changes you.
And once you’ve grown, yesterday’s version of life won’t fit anymore.
Coaching Moment
Let me talk to you like I would in a coaching call:
This moment you’re in? It’s not punishment. It’s not random.
It’s not the end.
It’s repositioning.
God is adjusting the seats. Shifting the roles. Rewriting the plan.
And yes—it takes humility.
Yes—it can feel unclear.
Yes—it stretches you.
But don’t miss it:
God isn’t just doing a new thing around you—He’s doing a new thing in you.
So take the next step. Trust the process. Keep your eyes on Him.
And remember…
You may not have chosen this change.
But with God, this change can still become your greatest growth.
