Change is Difficult

Change is difficult – there is no way around that. Sometimes, change is expected, as was the case with my weight loss after surgery. I thought about it for years. I prayed - for guidance, for strength, for support. I researched – different surgeries, various surgeons, and hospitals. I talked about it – with friends, with family, with people who had already had the surgery. I planned for it. I committed to the surgery, and to the necessary life changes that had to happen after the surgery. And when I finally had the surgery – the expected change came about. I lost weight (and continue to lose).

But sometimes, change hits us out of nowhere – and there isn’t anything we can do about it. That happened this past week, for both me and Dave, but also for a lot of people that we love dearly. Dave resigned his position at FCCJ. The decision came quickly – and I know that it hit hard. There are many, many emotions all tangled up in this decision, and most of the people who are affected by this decision had no choice in the matter. It breaks our hearts that we hurt people we love.

One thing that will NOT change is how Dave and I feel about the wonderful family at FCCJ. We both love you all – and you have been support and encouragement to us through our time at FCCJ. We will always think of you as family. We will always pray that God will continue to work in your lives – showing love to the congregation and the world outside FCCJ. And we will always hold you in a very special place in our hearts.

The people who have contacted us have been supportive, to say the least. Their love and support of us has come through when we needed it most – even though there are unanswered questions and hurting hearts and worry and concern. We pray that God will quickly heal those hurting places – and will guide everyone at FCCJ through the upcoming months.

“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.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) We may not know what the future is going to bring. We may not understand the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. But no matter what, God is bigger than anything we are going through, and He holds our future securely in His hand!