YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE

Have you ever wanted the easy way out because you were just tired?

Being recently diagnosed with IBS and struggling with severe digestive issues has left me not only physically and mentally exhausted but also desperately searching for a quick fix. I wanted a shortcut—a simple solution to make it all go away. However, each time I visited the doctor, I was reminded of one simple but powerful truth: “The power for change is in my hands.” 

For me, that change meant saying goodbye to the chips, ice cream, and fried chicken I loved and embracing a diet rich in fiber, fruits, vegetables, and lots of water. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary.

As I reflect on this journey, I can’t help but draw a parallel to my Christian walk. If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably found yourself wanting the answer to your prayers without the waiting, the study of God’s Word, the fasting, or the believing—especially when the answer feels so far away.

Here’s the good news for both of us: whether we’re waiting for a prayer to be answered or for something like stubborn IBS to calm down, we have a choice in how we wait.

We can wait in practiced faith—praying, studying, believing, and trusting even when the answer feels distant. Or we can wait passively, doing nothing and expecting change to simply fall into our laps.

I’ve learned that passive waiting isn’t practicing faith at all. Practicing faith means action. It means trusting God’s promises by taking small, faithful steps in the direction we believe He’s leading us. Sometimes, it’s as simple as doing what we already know to do.

So, as I think about my IBS journey, I know exactly what my next step is: first to the pantry—and then to the garbage can!

Let’s practice faith in every area of our lives, trusting that the changes we make today will lead us to the promises of tomorrow.