Why Change is Difficult (Part 1)

Change is foundational in our lives; a basic requirement God makes of us all. Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:3), an imperative directed at the entire transformation of our being for whole life success. Leaders are change agents helping others change for their own betterment and the for the sake of the world.

Consider how difficult a simple change might be by clasping your hands with fingers interlocked. Now unclasp them and move over by one finger before reclasping. If I asked you to clasp your hands in this new manner for the rest of your life you would probably resist unless there was good enough reason for doing so. While neither way of clasping your hands is better, the former one feels better, is more comfortable, and is certainly preferable. Change can be awkward and sometimes very difficult to embed.

First of all, change is difficult because of the uncertainty that surrounds it. In Matthew 16:21, 20:17-19, and 26:1-2, Jesus prepared his disciples for the crucifixion when he would be taken away from them. As indicated in these texts, he discussed the details numerous times. Serving leaders help their people deal with uncertainty by helping them know in advance what to expect. There is absolute clarity on what is known.

Second, change is difficult because everyone feels like they’re dealing with it alone. Consider the man Jesus delivered from an evil spirit in Mark 5:1-20. He wanted to go along with Jesus and his disciples but was told to return to his own people and share with them about his deliverance. Serving leaders create involvement and facilitate discussion. They encourage their people to be public about change and share freely about what they’re experiencing.

[Next week we will continue our discussion on a serving leader’s role of introducing change into followers’ lives and why it’s so difficult.]