It seems like all of my recent conversations have revolved around transition. My oldest teen started driving, my sister’s kid is going to college, friends are moving to new cities, and we are all making adjustments to a life that is somewhat post-pandemic.
It’s enough to make my heart race a little or consider spending the next millenia under the covers. I really dislike change.
Transitions like this make us feel small and out of control in our own lives. They also have the ability to reorient us around what matters. In times of transition, I ask myself a few questions that ground me and help me to remember how secure I really am in the Lord.
First: What am I counting on to make my life secure? What am I really trusting in? Is it my own success or performance? Is it the fruit of my labors with work or children? It is my own happiness or mental state?
Anything not rooted in God’s eternal Kingdom is going to be shaken and is going to change over time, including us. I remind myself that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever, and nothing takes Him by surprise (Hebrews 13:8).
Second: How strong are my trust muscles? Have I gotten weak in my trust in the Lord so that I am feeling insecure when I don’t have to be?
I remind myself that I can humbly confess my areas of unbelief and ask for God to strengthen my faith (Mark 9:24).
Third: What healthy habits do I have in place to help me thrive even when I’m struggling emotionally with all of the changes?
Maybe I need to get back to the basics and make sure I am eating well, sleeping enough, and getting some daily quiet time with the Lord so I can persevere through this season.
Times of transition will always come, and they are often hard. Yet the Lord knows, and He is faithful to carry us through them and make our faith more resilient in the process.
