Recently I was talking to Jesus and I told Him that although 2018 was a struggle due to my battle with breast cancer, it was nothing compared to the changes that recently took place in my life. I must admit that the changes that took place in 2019 were life altering, but through it all, Jesus was there the whole time. He neither left me nor forsaken me, but rather prepared and moved me into a new season.

We cannot see what is coming around the corner, but Jesus can. He lets us know when the time for change is near, but we don’t always listen. Not listening usually leads us to be shocked when changes hit. Heck, sometimes even when we listen we are still shocked when the change hits because change can be powerful. Big changes can strike us as “oh my goodness, how in the world did that happen?” type of thing. It can set you back on your heels, but only for a second, just long enough for you to catch your breath. Then you have to make a choice so you can figure out how to handle this new season in your life and how to use it to renew both your mind and spirit.

I’ve had my share of ups and downs and I’ve had my share of unexpected changes in my life. When my first born passed away it was a change that I never saw coming and it took a lot for me to find a normal routine again. I was filled with grief but I knew I had to either confront the change head on or get lost in my pain.

When I was diagnosed with breast cancer you could have knocked me over with a feather because never in a million years did I expect that to happen. My choice was flight or fight and I put on my gloves and started fighting, I said, “put your dukes up cancer cause I’m coming to kick butts and take names!” and to God be the glory — that’s exactly what we did.

While change may not always be welcome, it comes with two possibilities. It can either make us stronger, or it can defeat us, it all depends on your perception of it. We each have a choice to make when faced with change. Will we embrace it and be receptive to the new season that is upon us or will we tuck our heads in and wallow in how unfair life can be?

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing …”

I am now in a new season in my life that I never expected to be in, but guess what, through it all I am still here, still standing, still claiming victory. With each passing day I continue to get stronger, bolder and much more confident. The changes that Jesus made in my life have been wonderful. I feel like I got the tiger by the tail and I’m swinging it high and twirling it around.

Jesus is a wonder, Savior, healer, Father, mother, brother, sister, friend, comforter and whatever you need Him to be. He will guide you into a new exciting season in your life if you are willing to embrace it. Try Him and see what happens. Be blessed in Jesus’ name.