Be Changed in Him

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them

to the brim.

John 2:7

Change is something that can be noticed by several sources. The individual. Close friends. Family. Others. Noticing change is a reflection of what was observed in the first place. It is hard to acknowledge change, if there is no acknowledgement of what is present before the change. For instance, you can't notice a new hair color, if you didn't first have awareness that the individual did not have that color hair in the first place. However, your subconscious often takes in these little observations without you even noticing them. You do not walk around thinking to yourself, that person has black hair, that person has brown hair, blonde hair, red hair, etc. But when you see them with a change, you stop and notice that something is different. Sometimes you are quick to put your finger on it, other times it is not so easy to notice the change.

Depression and anxiety are not as hidden experiences as you may believe, hope, or think. If you allow yourself to be present in the current moments with others and with yourself you may be able to notice more about others and yourself than you did before. Sometimes people do a decent job of hiding these experiences, but even the most oblivious person can sense a shift in change if they are present enough to allow their subconscious to accept this awareness. The thing though is that society has created this blind spot in that we do not want to notice this change in others, or even at times ourselves because doing so would mean having to accept a difference. And we really like same-ness. The great thing about this though, is that you can use this for support.

John chapter 2 is about this change. It is a beautiful showcase of His willingness to change you. His desire that you do not believe Him just because He does it now, but also because He has done it [made changes in you] in the past, in the present, and will continue to change you, if you are willing, in the future.

The change that occurs in John 2 is the change in willingness to have faith in Him and His changes in you. He turns water into wine. The first sign that is done to reveal Himself to you. (Oh if I could remember the first time He revealed Himself to me in my own life, what an amazing experience to have. Thank goodness He continues to show up in my life daily, and in your life too). Mary had the faith that He could do this, that He could change the situation (John 2:3,5). The servants had faith that He could do something, not just a little but in huge ways. They filled the jars to the brim (John 2:7). They did not just fill the jars a little or to the neck, they filled the jars to the brim, to the very top where the water was probably spilling out because it was overflowing with water. The servants had faith that what they were told to serve the master was something other than water, imagine walking up with a ladle of water (John 2:8). But no. They walked in faith that there was a change so big that what they were serving the master was worth it. And lastly, the disciples change in their own faith, that they "believed in Him" (John 2:11). And let's not forget the significance of the master pointing out that they saved the best wine last(John2:10). Patience. Change is worth the wait. He is asking you to wait. And this change is the best yet, better than everything before.

Depression and anxiety require a change. They are occurring because of a triggering event. This can be a person, place, thing, event, or even an expectation. The change that is necessary is change that takes you from the place of experiencing the depression and anxiety to a place of no longer experiencing it. There are many things that can help in this change (check out the Managing Depression series ), such as: coping skills, talking with others, identifying the triggers, and reducing interactions with those triggers. John 2 though offers another source of change, and that source is Him. If you are the jugs in this story, how willing are you to fill yourself with everything worth changing and allowing Him to change you. Not just part of you, but all of you.

You are the water in this story too, the thing that is changed in Him.

You are also Mary and the servants in this story, you know that He can change you and you at times allow Him too.

You are the disciples in this story because you believe Him every time that He changes you.

Scripture:

John 2

John 2:3,5

John 2:7

John 2:8

John 2:11

John 2:10

Questions:

What keeps you from filling yourself to the brim?

What keeps you from asking for the change that you know He can provide? What keeps you from being Mary? The servants? The disciples?

How does your experience of depression and anxiety change when you allow Him to be the change?

Prayer:

God, thank you so much for being the change in my life. Thank you for being the change in my situations, in my past. Lord, you remind me day in and day out that you are ever present in my life. You are available to me, and assure me that all my wants and needs are found in you. Lord I pray that others can experience change in their depression, their anxiety, their experiences, through you. I pray that they fill their lives to the brim with what needs to be changed. I pray that they put their faith in you the way that Mary and the servants put their faith in you. That they can put their trust in your ways Lord. You did not have to change the water into wine, but you did it anyway. Lord, you did not have to change me, but you do it anyway. Thank you for blessing me in this and all the changes you have made in me, through me, and for me. Amen.