He folded the towel the wrong way.

I noticed it a couple of days after we were married.

Fold in half. Fold again. One more time. Done. 

Whoah. Um, no. That’s not how you fold a towel buddy. That’s not the right way.

Fold in half. Fold again. Quarter fold. Quarter fold. Done. 

That’s how you do it. Bam! 

Sometimes we do something for so long that we have defined it as the “right way” to do it. The problem isn’t the towel. It’s that I’m resistant to doing something different.

Moving past what you cannot change requires flexibility. You are going to be asked to communicate in a different way (name the pain, don’t blame). You are going to be asked to think in a new way. You are going to be asked to put down your burden, when it kind of feels like comfort.

Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past (Isaiah 43:18).

He has new thought patterns for you. He has new things for you to do. You might be in the same old situation, but he’s asking you to think about them in a whole new way.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

The emphasis in this scripture isn’t just on new, it’s on the first part of that verse: If anyone is in Christ. This is a you-and-God adventure. It’s not going to be easy, but discovering the new is worth it. You’ll learn through mistakes. You’ll learn through practice. You’ll learn as you trust God’s voice over your heart, as he leads you into the new.

Maybe you’ve been folding towels the “right” way for 20 years. I want you to go and refold them. Change it up. I know it sounds silly, but it’s symbolic.

You aren’t afraid to do things different.

You aren’t afraid to redefine your definition of normal.

You aren’t afraid by the new God wants to give you.

 

It’s not going to feel “right” in the beginning, and that’s okay.

Growth is awkward. Your growth might not even feel right to those who live closest. Maybe they’ll look at you and say, “Woah, where has my wife/mom/friend/daughter” gone?”

Take out the towel. Fold it however you want. Show them that you are flexible, and that you are willing to bend, grow, or change direction to receive all that God has for you.

Suzie

Day #20 of Moving Past What You Cannot Change

Listen to last night’s Gathering live broadcast. There’s an assignment waiting for you in this teaching. After listening, answer these questions.

Q: What is the rock you carry, and what is the Rock that you stand on?

Q: What is the new that God is trying to do in you?

[bctt tweet=”Exchange the rock you carry for the Rock you can stand on. #livingfreetogether ” username=”suzanneeller”]