For us, it’s the start of a new school year and there have been big changes. My wife is an elementary school teacher and is changing grades (significantly). It takes a lot of hard work and preparation to get a classroom set up. It takes even more character to work with large groups of children every day and try to convince them that learning is fun and good for you. Meanwhile, my son is starting a new grade, at a new school, without anyone he knows to stand behind him and say that it will be okay. It’s going to be great experience, but there’s still anxiety about the unknown and hoping that, as parents, we made the right decision.

At the end of Acts 1, the disciples are in the beginning of new and major change. Jesus rose from the dead, walked among them for 40 days, teaching as he went, and has now departed from them, again. However, before he went up through the clouds (Acts 1:9), he promised them that he would send the Holy Spirit that would give them power to be his witnesses (“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8). So the disciples left and went to bed and got up the next with the Holy Spirit right? No. How about the next day? Nope. 3 days later, just like the resurrection? Still not there… How many of them started getting nervous and anxious that maybe Jesus was wrong or had forgotten them? Maybe they weren’t going to get the Holy Spirit and they should go back to their ‘normal’ lives. There may have been doubts and anxiety, but rather than going back to the norm, they started preparing, not knowing exactly what would happen or when. They devoted themselves to prayer, prepared their hearts, and chose a replacement for Judas, who had betrayed Jesus. Then, while gathered together for Pentecost, it happened – “And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:2-4)

What a change was made that day! It had impacted every one of us from then until now. As Christians, we now have the Holy Spirit living within us (1 Corinthians 3:16) to remind of teaching (John 14:26), to guide in truth (John 16:13), to make intercession (Romans 8:26-27) and to sanctify and produce good through us (Galatians 5:16-6:10). So, when we are facing changes (career, family, school, etc.) through prayer and preparation, we can know that God is still working through us and has given us all we need as long as we rely on Him and follow His direction.