Lessons in Transition

Times of transition can be much harder than we ever anticipate. I know that I like my routines and schedules to stay the same as much as possible. Maybe you are different from me, but knowing what is coming on the calendar and watching it all play out is rewarding to me.

It’s the times when I must completely erase the plans and start over that are tough for me. Times when the Lord reveals changes He has planned that don’t quite fit into MY plan cause me to struggle. One such time for me recently has included a move from the ministry the Lord gave me in England for close to nine years to a brand-new culture, language, and ministry in Italy. Now I know what you’re thinking… I’d like to move to Italy! There is a fun, adventurous side to these things, but when this is not a vacation to visit all the new places, eat all the good food, and enjoy the relaxation, it can be a tough everyday grind. 

I honestly didn’t think I would struggle as much with the changes. But even in the difficulties, God has continued to teach me lessons about Himself and His never-failing faithfulness as He provides grace for each moment on this journey. Isn’t that what the Christian life is supposed to be anyway? Let me share with you some of the ways God’s Word has ministered to my heart in these months of transition. I hope something that He has taught me will be a blessing to you in some way.

​Last year, I received a book called Prayer, Praise & Promise: A Daily Walk Through the Psalms by Warren Wiersbe. The Lord prompted my heart to use this book in my devotions this year. I am so glad I listened. There have been so many timely truths that have helped me with what the Lord knew was coming this year for me.

Let’s start with Psalm 68:19. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation.” What an awesome verse to put before myself each day when more things seem to be going bad than well. My God DAILY LOADS me with His benefits. Weirsbe stated that this verse could be translated “Blessed be the Lord who daily bears our burdens.” Do we have burdens? Of course we do. But where and from whom did they come?

Look at Weirsbe’s explanation of benefits and burdens: “Let’s think about benefits and burdens. God is the One who gives us the burdens of life. Sometimes we bring burdens upon ourselves by our disobedience, rebellion, sin, unbelief, lack of love, and unkindness. But if we are walking in the will of God on the path of His choosing, and if we have burdens to bear, He is the One who has given them to us. Let’s view the burdens of life as benefits” (p. 183).

Paul’s example to us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 is that he was glorified in that burden so that the power of Christ would rest on his life. Sometimes God answers prayers to remove the burdens, but sometimes the answer is to realize the sufficient grace to carry that burden and to see it as a benefit that brings God glory. I have to say this is way easier to say than to do, but I am grateful for the grace God gives. There were and still are burdens that come with moving fields, but His grace is sufficient for each moment to help me through them. I am still learning to see Italian language school as a benefit, but God’s grace is sufficient for that every day. What are the burdens in your life that you need to see as benefits sent to you by our God Who wants to give you the grace to handle them as gifts from Him?

Another Psalm and study that has been an encouraging one to return to is Psalm 70. Have you ever started your prayer like the Psalmist here? “Hurry up, Lord! Deliver me and help me! And maybe do it now…” Weirsbe’s comments on this Psalm open this way: “Has God ever been slow in your life?” Talk about a dagger to my unbelieving heart. Several years ago, I spoke at a ladies’ conference, and the theme of the sessions I did was all about waiting! I wish I could go back and change that. Because now it’s all I seem capable of doing, and I am not even good at it. One of my friends even sent me my own notes from the sessions and encouraged me to go back and re-read them. With friends like that, who needs enemies? Just kidding! I am grateful for friends who point me to truth!

Waiting is just part of life. It’s not a pleasant part at all, but it’s not something we can avoid. In your waiting, have you ever noticed that God is never in a hurry? He patiently and methodically accomplishes His work. But even David here begs Him to make haste to help.

As I made plans for this field and ministry change, I was prepared to wait. I was told I might have to wait up to one year for my entry visa, and God said nope – He gave it to me not only on the same day but in 1 hour! But in this process, I have waited for lots of things. It took about five months to get my paperwork sorted here. I am still waiting for the moving company to bring my household goods that were packed and stored months ago. And learning Italian is another level of waiting for my brain to catch up. I’m sure you could fill in your own things here too when it comes to waiting. Re-read Psalm 70:4 and then look at what Weirsbe says here: “If right now it seems as though God is tarrying instead of working, if it seems as though He is delaying instead of acting, what should you do? Seek Him and wait on Him and love Him” (p. 187-188). My natural response is to worry, fret, complain, and cry. But this should be the way we respond – seek the Lord and love Him while you wait. “When God is not moving as rapidly as we think He should, and our timetables do not coincide, what should we do? Rejoice in Him, love Him, and magnify Him. Let Him worry about the timetable” (p.188). This is a hard one for me because I like to set up my timetable and watch it happen, but what I am learning is that when His timetable takes over in my delays, then He gets the glory for the results instead of me.

The bottom line here is that I must give up control of my schedule and let God work. Maybe I am the only one who struggles here, and there are some tough truths that I must face in these areas. But if you are like me at all, take a moment to meditate on this summary statement from Weirsbe’s devotion on Psalm 70: “God’s delays are part of your character-building process. The next time God gives you a delay, encourage yourself by remembering that He never stops working for you, and He knows when and how to help you. Submit to His timetable and His care” (p. 188).

How can these simple lessons that the Lord has taught me in a tough time of transition be applied to you? Do you need to refocus on your burdens to see them as benefits from the Lord? Do you need to let go of your timetable and rest in His care for you and the way things happen? Understanding these things does not make the difficult times evaporate, but it does help make it easier to handle the struggle with the right perspective. Remember that in times of struggle like my own that I have shared, or whatever you are thinking about right now that is overwhelming your heart and mind, God offers you the grace needed for each moment. Rest in His care and His plan, and know that even when it seems like He is late, you can trust His timeline way better than your own!

What burden, delay, or unexpected transition might God be asking you to see differently today—and what would it look like to surrender your timetable to Him and trust His sufficient grace for this season?