The Irony of Change
At the start of every new year, many people make plans for change. Yet did you know that 96.7% of people won’t follow through, even if their life depends on it?
Dr. Tara Kulas explains: “There’s no stronger scare tactic for adopting a healthy lifestyle than suffering a heart attack or stroke. Yet, surprisingly, many survivors still don’t make the necessary changes to improve their health.”
If you’re a counsellor, doctor, or personal trainer, these statistics probably don’t surprise you. If even the prospect of saving one’s own life isn’t enough motivation to change, it’s clear that something more than urgency is needed. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to be part of the 96.7% who struggle to change, even when their lives depend on it. And you don’t have to believe that only 3.3% of people are capable of transformation.
After three decades of serving, ministering, and walking alongside people, I’ve discovered a profound yet ironic truth about change: true transformation happens when we stop relying solely on our own strength and start depending on the unchanging nature of God.
The Irony of Change
Irony, simply put, is an unexpected or opposite outcome—sometimes even humorous. If change feels elusive to you, it may be because you’re relying too much on your own strength instead of trusting in God’s unchanging nature. Have you ever struggled to love others—or even yourself? If so, consider receiving God’s unconditional and unchanging love. Are you facing a difficult or unfair situation? Instead of trying to control the outcome, what if you trusted that God, who is always just, will ultimately work the situation for your good? (See2 Cor 4:17, Romans 8:28, Gen 50:20.)
What Does Change Really Mean?
The essence of change is to “make different, undergo transformation, transition, or improvement.” The word itself comes from the Latin cambiare, meaning to exchange.
There are two kinds of change: external and internal. External change is dependent on outside influences; it often lasts only as long as those influences remain. This explains why people seeking to break unhealthy habits or destructive patterns often falter when external support is removed.
In contrast, internal change—rooted in the unchanging nature of God—endures even when external circumstances shift. God is always present, ready to pick us up when we fail. As the Bible reminds us, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful.” (2 Tim 2:13)
This is incredible news for anyone wanting to break addictions, overcome bad habits, or build a healthier life. True change is possible when we move from the shifting sands of human willpower to the firm foundation of God’s unchanging nature (Heb13:8).
A Story of Transformation
Let me tell you about Bill. For years, Bill struggled with alcohol addiction. Despite repeated attempts to quit, he found himself trapped in a cycle of failure. His doctor warned him that if he didn’t stop drinking, he would either die or lose his sanity.
In desperation, Bill accepted a friend’s invitation to visit a local church in New York. During that visit, he said he sensed the presence of God. Ironically, the man who had struggled to overcome his own addiction would, after accepting Jesus Christ, go on to help countless others do the same by founding Alcoholics Anonymous.
How Can You Start the New Year Strong?
If you’re ready to embrace real change this year, start by asking God for His help. Sometimes, that also means accepting help from others whom God places in your life - who are God-sent. Jesus taught that God, as our good Father, will give good gifts to those who ask (Matt 7:11, James 1:17).
God often uses people as His instruments. For example, God-sent a little boy with five loaves and two fish to feed over 5,000 people (Matt 14:13-21). God-sent Paul to mentor Timothy, Mordecai to guide Esther, and Moses to lead alongside Aaron. Each of these individuals discovered the secret of transformation: looking beyond humanity’s ever-changing nature to the unchanging nature of God.
As we enter a new year, are you ready to do the same? True transformation begins when we shift our focus from relying on our own strength to trusting in the unchanging nature of God.
As Heraclitus once said, “There is nothing permanent, except change.”
Steve Gambill
Steve is a skilled leader and communicator, who for decades has empowered emerging generations, equipped people to discover their God-given potential and lead one of Europe’s largest churches. He pastors with Association of Related Churches and together with his wife Charlotte has two children Hope Cherish and Noah Brave.
