Surely We Can Change?

I am sitting her listening to a song called "Surely We Can Change" and I find myself wondering if that is true. If we are normally afraid, can we become brave? Can we learn to trust when we struggle to do so?

I believe we can, but how? That's the real question. How do we become disciplined when we lack it? How do we serve others when we want to be selfish? How do we become humble when we are so proud?

The simple answer is that the Holy Spirit living in us gives us the power to change. But simple answers don't always work for me because it makes me think it should be simple. Well if it was simple we wouldn't struggle with pride; we'd be disciplined and we would choose to serve others rather than ourselves. But we don't always choose well because it is not simple. It is a challenge.

I don't know about you, but many times my best intentions turn into yet another set of failures. In those moments, when I find myself not living up to my own expectations I am forced to remember that I am human. You laugh...but truth be told, many of us have unreal expectations that we have placed on ourselves. I know I do...and I let myself down frequently and then I feel guilty and condemned. Whose condemning me? The Lord? No...it's Me!

In those moments when I step back and remember that I am a work in progress; in those moments I can feel my Dad in heaven smiling at the progress I am making. He knows that every time I do choose well...and I do choose well far more times that I give myself credit for...I get a little bit closer to looking like Jesus. And that is the ultimate goal anyway.

So can we change...absolutely, but it takes work and it is a process. We will succeed some days and others we will fail miserably. It's ok...it's all part of the process of become like Christ.

So get up...try again! Because we can change!