Benjamin Franklin once said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.”

To that, I would add change.

No matter how old we are, there’s no argument that for any adult today, the world is much different than it was when they were born, whether that was 20 years ago or 80 years ago.

A lot of us spend a huge amount of time and energy trying to avoid change, even fighting change. It never works. We were created by an unchanging God to be ever-changing people in an ever-changing world.

On an individual scale, we begin to change from the moment we’re conceived—and we change until the day we die. On a larger scale, the world has been changing since it came into existence as a cloud of dust and gas billions of years ago—and as long as it exists, it will continue to change.

Change is inevitable. Fighting it is a losing battle. Being able to adapt to change, whether it’s a major life event or a small alteration in your daily routine, is an essential skill that we need at every stage of life. So instead of resisting change, embrace it—but embrace it with discernment, because not all change is good.

Try these ten ways to embrace change with discernment.

1. See change as an opportunity for growth and learning.

When you develop an open, positive mindset toward change, you can make it a tool for personal development and professional growth. Even when it’s not all good, think of change as an adventure.

Start by figuring out what you’re really dealing with. Understand what is changing and why, and look for the opportunities. How can the process help you learn and grow?

Jesus grew in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and all the people. (Luke 2:52, NLT)

2. When you see change coming, prepare yourself.

When change is on the horizon, think about what you can do to make it as easy as possible. Be proactive, not reactive. Create a plan for dealing with what’s ahead. A plan puts you in charge of the change, instead of the change being in charge of you.

Face it directly. Avoidance only causes more problems, so don’t try to pretend the change isn’t going to happen.

Begin by examining your feelings about the change. Don’t be afraid—even change that should be rejected shouldn’t be feared. But if you’re apprehensive, take the time to understand why, reject any irrational concerns, and figure out a way to deal with real issues. Be flexible and adaptable.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NIV)

Next, set goals to help you work through the change. What’s going to happen and how can you equip yourself for it? Do you need information? Do you need to develop new skills? Break that down into manageable chunks. Even when you’re looking forward to a change, a plan will allow you to maintain control of your actions and reactions.

3. Focus on what you value.

As you navigate change, stay focused on what you value. How is the change going to affect the people and things that are important to you? Your plan for responding to the change should allow you to honor your principles.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (Romans 12:9-10, NLT)

4. Stay in the present.

Don’t regret the past or worry about the future—those feelings are a waste of time and energy. Let go of yesterday, let tomorrow wait, and savor the present. Be fully engaged in the here and now. Take control of what you can and accept what you can’t.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. (Isaiah 43:18, NIV)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34, NIV)

5. Find the positive.

No matter how negative things may seem, there’s always an upside to change. Look for new opportunities the change brings and take advantage of them. Look for humor—kind and gentle humor—in the situation and have some fun. Let the change help you discover some hidden strengths you may not have known you possessed. Let it boost your creative thinking and broaden your horizons. This may take some work, but you’ll be able to find a positive if you look for it, which lets you make the most out of any situation.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

6. Practice self-care.

Especially during periods of great change, self-care is critical. Exercise, maintain a diet that’s as healthful as possible, and get sufficient rest.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV)

If the change involved a loss such as the death of a loved one, a divorce, a betrayal, or the loss of a job, acknowledge that and deal with your grief. Find a safe place to deal with your emotions and get the support you need.

Remember that even positive changes—a marriage, new job, new home, babies—can be stressful, so practice self-care during those times as well.

Your feelings are always valid. Acknowledge and accept them. Even when you think you shouldn’t “feel that way,” if you do, you need to accept it, understand what’s causing it, and deal with it.

One of the most important elements of self-care is to practice gratitude. Be grateful for what was and what is to come. Keep a gratitude journal and write in it daily.

7. Stay connected to your community.

When we’re dealing with a lot of change and intense emotions, it’s easy to let ourselves become isolated, but don’t. Be intentional about regularly communicating with your friends, family, coworkers, and others in your network.

Reach out to people who can help you work through the change. Even when these people are struggling with their own situations, you can draw strength from one another. Let them know what you need, but avoid venting. Some venting is okay, but too much creates negativity and panic. Find out what their needs are and do what you can to help.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. (Proverbs 27:17, NLT)

8. Remember how you dealt with previous changes.

Use what you learned from the changes you’ve experienced in the past to help you now. What did you do to get through the tough times? How can you apply that to what’s happening now?

But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. (Deuteronomy 4:9, NLT)

9. Learn to recognize and reject bad changes.

There are times when you need to reject a bad change to maintain your personal integrity and protect your long-term success. When a change means setbacks, or some other unwanted result, you need to respond in a way that will mitigate those negative consequences.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NLT)

Ask yourself:

• Does this change align with my personal values and goals?
• What are the short- and long-term benefits and drawbacks?
• Do I feel excited and optimistic, or anxious and uneasy?
• Can I accept the consequences of the change?

If the answers to those questions tell you that you must reject the change, do it in a way that shields you as much as possible. For example, in an organization, you can communicate your concerns about the change to the relevant decision-makers at an appropriate time and place. Go in with solutions. Offer well-thought-out alternatives. If your suggestions are not accepted, be prepared to do what you must in response.

10. Pray without ceasing.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17, NKJV)

All of the things we’ve talked about are mortal techniques and, though they may not be easy, they will work. But when you combine them with prayer and let God take control, you will have a supernatural ability to embrace change with discernment.