Transitions can be scary for a multitude of reasons. For some, it’s the change and leaving what’s known and comfortable behind, or the fear of the unknown as you tread into unfamiliar territory. Yet for others, the idea of moving into something new brings much excitement and anticipation. Chances are, we have each fallen into one or more of these spaces in our lives. Maybe you’re in one of those spaces right now. If you are, you are not alone. And the good news is the Lord has something in it for you, whether in your discomfort or anticipation.

How do I know? I’m currently sitting right in the middle of a few substantial life changes. If you read my last blog, you learned I recently resigned from a job I’ve held for the past decade. I’m also within days of turning 50. (And friends who have been there and/or are close to that, you know that brings all kinds of changes with it!) As I have been intentionally seeking His voice through these changes, He has started to show me several things in this season of transition and waiting. The more I have been seeking Him through this, the closer I have felt to Him and the more He has revealed to me. If you had told me a year ago that this change would be happening and I would be describing it as “exciting” and “hopeful” and “peaceful”, I may have had a hard time believing it!

But here I am, and He’s showing me a lot. For one, He wants me to make the most of this transition time. I believe He wants that for all of us. Transitions introduce us to an opportunity to hear God in new (and exciting) ways. All we have to do is seek Him through it. Talk to Him about the change and look for His encouragement through His Word, believers around us, and prayer. I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 this morning (cue the music…):

A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

This passage reminds us that our Creator designed us for change. And while our lives do change, God’s purposes for us never change. I love how gotquestions.org lays out our purpose according to scripture:

Our purpose in life, as God originally created man, is 1) glorify God and enjoy fellowship with Him, 2) have good relationships with others, 3) work, and 4) have dominion over the earth. But with man’s fall into sin, fellowship with God is broken, relationships with others are strained, work seems to always be frustrating, and man struggles to maintain any semblance of dominion over nature. Only by restoring fellowship with God, through faith in Jesus Christ, can purpose in life be rediscovered.

The purpose of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We glorify God by fearing and obeying Him, keeping our eyes on our future home in heaven, and knowing Him intimately. We enjoy God by following His purpose for our lives, which enables us to experience true and lasting joy—the abundant life that He desires for us.

Our days may look different, but God’s call remains and is active in our lives, regardless of our life circumstances or physical abilities. In her devotion book, “Embraced”, author Lisa TerKeurst encourages, “If we are obedient to God in the midst of our ordinary lives, extraordinary impact is always possible.” She continues, “God’s hand is never limited by what we have in ours.” When we seek God in each day of our lives, we start to recognize the calling He has on our lives each and every day. And Paul assures us of all of this in Ephesians 2:10 when he says, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We were created to participate in His divine activity each and every day, even in the seemingly simplest of tasks. That’s great news, friends!

Here are five Godly truths I’ve been leaning into during this season of change and transition. While I could write in depth about each one of these things, I’ve provided supporting scripture that I encourage you to dive into if any of these areas resonate with you.

1. God is sovereign over everything we’re experiencing (Revelation 21:6, Colossians 1:16, Romans 11:33, Psalm 103:19).
2. God wants good for us (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 37:3-4, Romans 8:28).
3. God uses change to refine us (Think pearls!) (1 Peter 1:6-7, Romans 12:2, Jeremiah 17:10).
4. Obedience to God brings freedom (Psalms 119:44-45, James 1:25).
5. Trusting God gives peace (Philippians 4:6-7, John 14:27, Psalm 56:3).

It is not lost on me that some seasons of transition feel like flat out winter…too dormant, quiet, and lifeless. Many of us have experienced that, too. But we must not forget that God promises He will not leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He cares for us too much. And when God changes our plans, it’s because He knows what we do not know and it’s GOOD for us. We must trust that because He loves us more than we can fathom. He loves us so much that He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins, and He invites us into eternal life with Him. So how can we NOT trust Him with change in our lives?

Lord, thank You for being sovereign over all the change and uncertainty happening in my life right now. I thank You for giving me a peace that transcends understanding, and a hope that You have great things in store for me. Please continue to reveal Your presence to me and help me have the space to hear and discern Your voice each day. You are SO good! Thank You for how you love us so much! I praise You and ask all of this in Your son’s precious Name, Amen.