Acclimating: Adjusting to the Changes Around Us

Rachel Vaughn
Jun 5
5 min read

Today, we’re talking about Acclimating: Adjusting to the Changes Around Us

Let me ask you this—how do you handle change? Do you jump in like it’s a pool on a hot day, or do you toe the water for twenty minutes before easing in and still scream when it’s cold?

Today is all about acclimating—learning how to adjust when life shifts, whether it’s a new job, new season, or just a new coffee shop that doesn’t make your drink like the old one.

Philippians 4:11–12 (NLT) — “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation…”

Alright, let’s talk about how we can learn to settle into whatever season we’re in without losing our peace.

Let’s talk about that moment when life suddenly feels different. Maybe it’s a new routine, a move, a relationship shift—or even just the seasons changing (looking at you, Houston weather). How do we start the process of adjusting when everything feels unfamiliar?

How do we acclimate to what God is wanting us to do when everything seems so different?

I think of it as walking into a room full of people you don’t know. You have two choices: 1) sit in the corner and maybe wait, hoping someone will come talk to you, or 2) just jump in and get involved.

The good news is, when we are following God, He will sometimes give us all we need to just jump in. Sure, there are times He wants us to go first and then He’ll fill in the blanks. But nonetheless, God is there, and He will guide you.

Change can hit hard—like walking into your house after someone rearranged the furniture. My grandmother used to rearrange her furniture every two weeks so we would never know what to expect when we walked in. So sometimes even good change can throw us off. Think about the first week of daylight-saving time. Why is it always harder than it should be? We should be used to this after all these years, but we still struggle.

Change really challenges our dog, every time we move her kennel, she gets so confused. It takes her a good week to remember where we moved it to. It’s not like we moved it to another room—it was just a different part of the room.. But that slight change really throws her off.

So, when change comes, no matter what it is, it’s okay to admit, “This is hard.”

Also know that there’s a difference between resisting change and building resilience in it. Sometimes we fight so hard to get back to “how it was” that we miss the opportunity to grow where we are. Resilience doesn’t mean loving every new thing—it just means you keep showing up with faith.

If you’re in a new season and you’re struggling to find your footing—take a breath. You’re not behind. You’re not broken. You’re just adjusting. And that’s allowed. Give yourself grace to get used to this new thing slowly.

Once the change starts and the dust settles, we can begin to look for what God might be doing in the new. He doesn’t waste a transition—He uses it to stretch us, grow us, and draw us close.

I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I was a kid, I didn’t understand some of the stuff my dad wanted us to do. It seemed like a waste of time—but we had to do it anyway.

I think we can feel the same way when it comes to God and what He has us doing. We’re in the midst of something and we may already know how to do, but He’s making us walk through it anyway. The thing is we think it is a waste, but God wastes nothing. So regardless of our thoughts on it, if God has led us to it, we need to do it.

Change it interrupts our rhythms. That’s when frustration sets in.

But sometimes, it’s in the interruption that God shows up. A new job might bring a new friend. A new neighborhood might open doors to serve.

What if, instead of asking “How do I get comfortable?” we asked, “What’s God doing here?”

Change—though uncomfortable—is not always bad. Our instinct is to be comfortable, but we need change in order to grow.

Change stretches us—and stretched muscles get stronger. Whether you’re learning a new role, a new pace, or a new mindset, remember that growth doesn’t happen in comfort. God is with you in the stretch.

Ask God to help you settle in and acclimate to where He has you.

Let’s carry peace into every season, even the unexpected ones. We may not always like change, but we can become people who walk with calm confidence because we know who walks with us.

Being adaptable doesn’t mean you’re a pushover—it means you’re anchored enough in God that when life shifts, you don’t fall apart. Flexibility is a gift. And faith makes us flexible. It’s like spiritual stretching—less about the pose, more about the posture of your heart.

We’re called to be rooted in Christ, not rooted in our routines. When we anchor our identity in Jesus instead of our calendar, our title, or our plans—we can weather the changes and still be steady.

Lord, teach us to bend without breaking. Help us adjust without losing who we are in You. Give us eyes to see the beauty in the new and the grace to release the old. Amen.

Take comfort in knowing that you don’t have to know how it all plays out. You just need to take the next step. Acclimating isn’t about getting it all perfect—it’s about walking forward with God, one moment at a time.

Thanks for walking through change with me today! Whether you're in a brand-new season or still adjusting to an old one, remember: God goes before you, walks beside you, and never changes—no matter what else does. Keep acclimating, keep trusting.