Trusting through Transitions

Trusting Through Transitions
Transitions in life are rarely easy. They mean one part of your life’s story is over and a new one is about to begin. They are the space between where faith is tested and fear fights to creep in. They are a temporary no man’s land that we have to walk through in order to mature and grow in our faith. As we walk through them, it’s hard to see what’s ahead. The territory is unknown, so we often tend to focus on the transition itself, rather than the destination. We also often question God’s providence during these times. As I thought about that, God reminded me how many times Jesus told the disciples what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem and why. They listened but never heard a word of it and were shocked in the Garden of Gethsemane. Like us, they were confused, frightened and wondered where God was in the transition.
God speaks to each of us daily. He often says things we ignore or don’t want to hear, so we tune Him out. The disciples heard Jesus tell them about the transition, but they weren’t listening. Even when we know a transition is coming, it’s still natural to be fearful. We’re all afraid of change, but the passing years have taught me that change is necessary for our growth. When we fight it, we fight the future God has for us and we fight God’s will. Our times of transition help prepare us for the change. They stretch and grow our faith and trust in God’s plan for our lives. It’s something we can only see when we take the time to look back. Imagine if Peter and the others had stayed locked up in their houses and never went to the upper room. Out of 500 people Jesus told to go and wait, only 120 made it through the transition. They were tough enough to stick it out and trusted that God had something better on the other side. God has something greater for you on the other side of this time of transition also. It may take longer than we expected, but hang on. The reward will be worth it. Friends, the growth you will experience will be like no other time in your life. So don’t give up, hold fast to your faith and trust God through life’s transitions, He will never leave or forsake you!
Grace and peace always,
Fr. Greg+

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