There is a saying that the only thing permanent in the world is change. All in this world is passing and fleeting, hence change is inevitable. Even if change is a reality though, people by nature do not want to change. Truly it is so hard to change: there is inconvenience, there is uncertainty, there is fear, and there is anger. We can become irrelevant and we realize we are not in control. 

Yet, look at what happens to:

• Countries that do not change: the people in the government may change, but the systems do not
• Companies that do not change: the brand of phone you had 15 years ago, was different from what you had 10 years ago, what you had 5 years ago, and what you have now
• People who do not change: somebody better comes along)

This past Christmas season, we were reminded of one of the most famous stories of change, where Joseph was supposed to get married to Mary until he found her with child. He decided to divorce her quietly. What a change of plans!  

Hence, when suddenly our plans are not coming true, when things do not happen the way we want, when everything seems wrong, like Joseph, three things we can do:

1. Always do the right thing. Initially, the right thing to do for Joseph was to quietly divorce Mary. No need to stone her to death which was the typical punishment of those days. Eventually, after prayer, the right thing to do was to take Mary into his home. Always do the right things. 
   
2. God has a plan. Being a righteous and God-fearing person, Joseph knew that God had a plan. His plan, even if mysterious, difficult, and different, is always the best. When we do not understand what is happening, remember that God has a plan.
   
3. God will provide. How do you explain the pregnancy to yourself if you were Joseph? What will Joakim and Ana say about the pregnancy? What will the neighbors say? When there is a change, there will always be hardships, but God will see us through. 

We remember the words of Rick Warren:

God changes sand to pearl; caterpillars to butterfly and coal to diamond using pressure and time. He is working on us. He is changing our plans to what is best. Hence, if God changes your plans, be sure to change your heart.