Humans will often fight for their right to maintain certain routines, even more than they will fight for what’s right. Let that sink in. While doing so, allow me to explain…
I’ve lived a dynamic life, which I’m incredibly thankful for because God knows how curious my mind is. I’ve met a bazillion people, traveled the world over, worked a variety of jobs, and experienced many ups and downs along the way. As you might imagine, I’ve gained a lot of wisdom as a result. I think this last part is because I’m a keen observer and, generally, a good listener.
Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
– Job 12:12
I’ve learned there are two kinds of people in this world, those who embrace change and those who fight against it with all they can muster. It’s the latter camp that I’m addressing in this blog and to whom I wrote a blog in November 2025 titled, Don’t Be Afraid of Change, which opened with the famous quote from Heraclitus of Ephesus, “The only constant in life is change.”
The question worth pondering is, “Why do people resist change?” Furthermore, why do many of these same folks fight tooth and nail to protect their so-called “way of life”? We hear a lot about this topic, don’t we? For example, whenever there’s a war taking place, someone’s always claiming they are protecting their way of life, even if that way of life could be drastically improved. It’s a real head-scratcher at times. In any case, it reveals something about human nature.
Humans will often fight for their right to maintain certain routines, even more than they will fight for what’s right.
I preached a message recently where the closing key principle was, “Your habits and routines are not law. Learn to challenge the “norms & standards” in your life. Hold all things up to the scrutiny of Holy Scripture, and whatever falls short, get rid of it immediately (or find a way out of it asap).” I share this because it was a sort of an “aha moment” for some in my congregation. The point is that we humans get so locked into our daily routines that we vigorously resist any disturbances to them. We might even become angry, defiant, and downright pugnacious towards the source of a disturbance.
Again, we must ask, “Why?”, especially in the case where a change would prove most beneficial. It seems quite strange that a person would get so stuck in their own routines, even blinded by them; yet it happens all the time. I certainly see it in the lives of my congregants, where I know they hear exactly what God the Holy Spirit is saying to them, personally, through a message and yet they choose to keep their life unaltered because that’s where they are comfortable existing. They protect their crooked way of life even when they know God’s way is the straighter, better way!
I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
– Isaiah 43:15-19
The Lord is a true adventurer. How exciting is He? It’s one of my favorite things about Him. It makes me sad that I seem to be in the minority on this point. It seems crazy that anyone would choose a manmade, routinized life over the one God prefers for them. If they’d only let their guard down and truly trust in the Lord!
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
– 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Life is an adventure. Apparently, adventure scares people. Either that or people are just so lazy that even the idea of change sounds exhausting to them! The irony is that most people who resist changes to their beloved way of life expend way more energy protecting it than they ever would by simply stepping through a door that God has opened for them. Whatever the case may be, it’s a tragedy because ultimately their actions are saying, “I trust my own ways more than yours, Lord.”
Here’s a challenging question for you (concentrate). If God’s way is the straightest of all, what say you of a person’s routine if, while it seems the straightest path to them (e.g., nothing is changing), it goes in a different direction? Hint: it is rightly called “crooked”.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.
– Proverbs 3:5-8
Do not protect your way of life if it does not align with God, even if the change makes you uncomfortable for a moment. Routines are often like splinters – they hurt while being plucked out, but once out there’s tremendous relief from something that was causing you persistent pain. I’ll go one step further and say that sometimes we don’t always know why we’re in pain until God works something out in us and said pain disappears. It isn’t until the “splinter” is removed (e.g., a bad relationship ends) that you are able to connect the dots. Faith is the imperative. If you trust the Lord, then walk through the doors that He opens for you, leaving your fears and so-called “losses” behind (a la Philippians 3:8).
Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!
– Psalm 37:3-7
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins