Transitions are hard.
Depending on the perceived loss you face, transitions can take their toll on how well you and I move through them. For an example, the change from one job to the next can be an exhilarating feeling, especially if gifts flourish at the next place of employment. For others, being “let go” at a place where we were thriving at, due to financial cuts, can be a time of great loss— of identity, placement, and finances.
Same loss, but it is perceived different… and the impact effects us on multiple levels.
In the past two years:
I have moved 4 times to 3 different cities
*changed jobs
*transitioned ministry contexts twice
*experienced the death of my father and
*surrendered a relationship
I have experienced many many macro and micro-transitions in my house, friendships, job, etc. … and probably the one that bites at my heels everyday… the transitions that are taking place in myself. You know, becoming less selfish… impatient… cruel with words… and the list continues.
I do not say these things for any other reason than for you to know that I understand on certain levels (not all) what YOU have probably experienced too. I am sure that the constant picking up life and putting it back down has taken it‘s toll on your soul. It is the deep feeling that you can never get “settled” just right amidst the underlining weariness that lingers in your soul. If I were to put it in other terms… I would say seasons like this are like a lukewarm cup of coffee that never fully gets cold, but just stays warm enough where you think you can sip it, but it never (and I mean, never) satisfies.
May I pose something that possibly could challenge you today, as it has me. Let me start by telling you that my late grandmother and father both instilled this verse into me:
”Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6
I find this to be one of the most challenging transitions that you and I will ever practically face. The picking up of trust in the Lord and the putting down of our own understanding. If you are like me, I can build frameworks and systems in my head of how circumstances could play out. I can create a narrative in order to self-protect or self-preserve. The unfortunate rhythm of this is that it is not filled with the Spirit of God. It is complete reliance upon myself.
In all of our circumstantial transitions, I think what we must realize is that we are faced with a very subtle enemy who tempts our hearts in the way of leaning on our own understanding. You may even have the thought in this very moment, “It does not seem like that big of a deal.” My friend, those can be some of our worst enemies— the ones that are subtle, act as our friend who protects us, yet betrays us the deepest in the end.
I am fully aware that this part of our spiritual formation is not a means to an end… it is simply a part of the bigger picture. If you and I are going to practice spiritual disciplines to help shape our character, we also must practice resisting our own understanding in the process of prayer, fasting, solitude, community, giving, and so forth.
May the greatest transition you and I experience in any circumstantial transition be the one where we pick up trusting the Lord (His character) and His Word and we put down our own understanding. May we never grow tired of this type of transition for this is the one that transforms our hearts more into His image. If you are weary, I pray the Holy Spirit refreshes you. If you are heavy burdened, I pray that the Holy Spirit bids you to ”come”. Jesus says, “Come to me all you are weary and heavy burdened… I will give you rest.”
Transitions are hard… and transitioning the heart can be the most difficult depending on the perceived loss. Paul says, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” (Phil 3:8-9).
What is it worth to you?
Will you pick up all that Christ has to offer?
Will you put down all that you have sown for yourself?
This tends to be a daily practice for me… or so I am learning.
By Grace,
Cortney Rae
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