I admit that I have not always adapted well to change. Sometimes I fight it…and lose; As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that it’s best to go with and not fight change. I was once traveling and learned this important lesson when I had to deal with an unexpected change.

I was at an airport in North Carolina flying back to DFW. “Great!” I thought as I looked at my watch. “I’m an hour from boarding time, which gives me plenty of time to go through security and relax before the flight. “I started the fairly simple check-in process when a message I hadn’t expected flashed on the self-check-in kiosk: “Your travel plan has changed. Press continue to see details.”

I hesitated before pressing ‘continue’, unsure of what the ‘change’ might be. After a few seconds of deliberation, I tapped the screen and looked with mild irritation at my new itinerary. My canceled flight had been replaced with an afternoon flight for the next day that would have gotten me home almost 24 hours later.

I blinked hoping my original itinerary would reappear. When it didn’t, I stood in line and then spoke to the ticket agent in my nicest, non-panicked voice. On the inside I screamed, “I have to go back to Dallas tonight!”

The ticket agent smiled at me when I told her my name and she was able to pull up the flights. I smiled back because I tried not to let the frustration show in my face or voice. But in silence I prayed that God would help me. I stood as patiently as I could and asked to be seated. As quickly as I asked for it, she said, “You’re lucky. Another airline has some seats available. Let me call and get you one.”

When she gave me my ticket and directed me to the other airline, she repeated that I was lucky. I couldn’t resist turning around and telling her it wasn’t luck, but God’s favor. Even though I was on my way home, I have to admit that I wasn’t too happy about the change. The thought of having to change terminals to find my car at DFW airport was not my idea of ​​fun for a Sunday night, but I soon realized it was a blessing in disguise. The new flight was ½ hour later than the original flight, but it got me back to Dallas 1 hour earlier. I had to change terminals and wait for checked baggage, but I was still home earlier than the original flight.

It was a mild inconvenience a number of years ago which I have since repeated a number of times when I have traveled. You plan your life only to have things change when you least expect or want them to. Do you give God an attitude or do you trust Him to know what is best? I remembered Proverbs 16:9: “In his heart a man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”

Not only with that trip, but with other areas of my life as well, I’ve found that going with rather than resisting change (especially when it comes to God’s plans) is the best way to go!

Shewanda Riley (Aunt Wanda), PhD, is a Fort Worth-based author of “Love Hangover: Moving from Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.” Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @shewanda. You can also listen to her podcast at www.chocolateauntiepodcast.com.