In this day and age of so much going on all around us, we as individuals, seem to cringe at the word change.

In one way or another that notion of change has been active with the hundreds of clients that I have been blessed to work with during the past 18 years at Lutheran Family Service. As an ministry, we have seen a number of changes in the years which I have served. The word change is one that traditionally my wife, Joan, has not liked at all. For the most part I have been one that has embraced change.

And now the Lord has Joan and me standing on the doorstep of one of the biggest changes in our lives—RETIREMENT. At this point I’m trying to listen to the counsel that I have given to my clients over the years. I’m trying to lean on Scripture for my counsel through this period of uncertainty. A verse from Proverbs comes to mind:

“Trust in the Lord always and lean not on your own understanding.”

Another passage which has been strengthening and heartening for both me and my wife is Ps 27:1

“The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall, I fear? The Lord is my stronghold of my life—of whom should I be afraid?”

People often now ask me, what are you going to do with your retirement? Quite honestly, I don’t exactly know. However I am trusting that in the Lord’s gracious timing he will let me know. I am open to fill in for Pastors so that I may continue to preach. I’m also open to doing some kind of counseling, though I don’t know what that will look like yet. Trusting that in His good time, all will be revealed.

Another rejoinder that is throughout scripture that the Lord says to his children is, “Fear not I am with you!” That rejoinder alone gives me hope and strength as I venture into this new unknown, because I know that He goes with me.

As I write this, I am filled with gratitude to an organization which gave me a chance to serve the Lord in a Christian counseling ministry for the past 18 years. I have been humbled by the number of people who the Lord has allowed me to be of some assistance, in helping them to deal with or make changes in their lives. What an absolute joy it has been to work with a group of like-minded professionals united around the same cause.

May all of your “changes” in life be less scary knowing that God is with you every step of the way!

Rev. Gerry Bruhn – Clinical Social Worker

Lutheran Family Service