Your father shows signs of memory loss and you know what’s on the horizon. You hear murmurings about organizational shake-ups at work and you wonder if you’ll be part of the new plan. Your son is about to go off to college and the family unit will be split apart. You’re moving, leaving the world you’ve known for uncertainties ahead.

Change is hard. We get comfortable with the way things are and become fearful when change shows up.

Right now, I’m trying to adapt to a challenging four-in-one change. New job, entirely new location in another part of the country, finding a new church and making new friends I can trust.

These lifestyle changes are hard to grapple with. We can learn from Peter, who went through a change that rocked him to the core of his being. And he didn’t do well for a while.

The Apostle Paul points out, “I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.” (Galatians 2:11 NIV) Sounds serious. Reflecting on all the changes in my life, I’ve never stood condemned in them. Have you?

Peter was struggling with moving from a life based on the Law to a new life based on faith alone. He has mastered Law-based living by practicing it for over 20 years.

Paul explains in that same passage that in Peter’s new life of faith, he ate and fellowshiped with Gentile Christians — but separated himself when the “circumcision group” came for a visit. Almost sounds like the mob showed up from the Bronx. Paul says that Peter was afraid of them.

Ha! This stalwart, bold, fearless Peter was scared to death. He cowered instead of standing up for his new faith centered on the finished work of the cross. He withdrew into the life he knew so well, the life of the Law. That was more comfortable for him.

This escalated to the point that other Jewish Christians “joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” (Galatians 2:12 NIV)

Paul read Peter the riot act and scolded others who were guilty, too. You should take a look at Galatians 2. Paul spent this chapter and the next three explaining the beautiful truth of living by faith in Christ alone. He spoke these words at the pinnacle of his exhortation, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)

You may have replaced faith with works in your life with God. If so, come back to Jesus. You’re free in him. Peter chose to leave the falsehood of his Law-based life and return to one centered on faith alone in the Savior he loved. He became the rock, the leader, of the early church.

The bigger lesson here is that when you’re facing any change, cling to the unchanging God who is your anchor. He says in Psalms:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” (Psalms 46:1-2 NIV)

It may feel like the earth is giving way as you face a serious change in your life. You’re disoriented, confused, fearful.

It takes courage to embrace the uncomfortable, just as Peter found when he turned back to the roots of his faith.

Look straight into the eyes of Jesus, step into his strong arms, find your confidence in him and invite your loving Savior to walk with you through this change.

(From my new 30-day devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Courage. Available on Amazon in Kindle and print).