I cried. One of my friends left for college today and I cried when she left. It wasn't because she was going to be four hours away. It wasn't because I don't know when I'm going to see her. It was because that meant that things were going to be changing.

I have had the same group of friends since elementary school. We've been through everything together. Middle school, high school, graduations. We've had hundreds of sleepovers, movie nights, and venting sessions. As we got older, we always knew that things would have to change eventually, but none of us were ready for it to happen so soon.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I hate change. Honestly, I wish everything would stay the same, but that's not going to happen. As much as I want time to slow down, I can't do anything to stop it. Growing up requires a lot of changes, and I don't think I'll ever be ready for it. I'm at the point in my life where my friends and I are transitioning into adulthood, and I'm definitely not ready for that.

When I'm afraid of things changing, I like to reflect on Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1 through 8, which reads:

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. ² A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. ³ A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. ⁴ A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. ⁵ A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. ⁶ A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. ⁷ A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. ⁸ A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace."

This passage shows me that God has a purpose for every period of our lives, and I might miss it if I'm always looking to the past. God has placed amazing opportunities for me at this point in my life, but, if I'm going to take these opportunities, then I'm going to have to let change happen.

Truthfully, I should be embracing change. Ever since I surrendered my life to Christ, He has been changing me to look more like Him. I'm definitely not even close to being like Him, so he is still changing me and things in my life to get me there.

So, next time things are changing, know that God is changing things for your benefit, to make you more like you were designed to be: The image of Him and His Son. It will still be hard to accept the change, but God will give you peace that surpasses all understanding if you leave your life in His hands.

"But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand." — Isaiah 64:8 ESV