Transitions

1My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;
2for they will bring you
many days, a full life,  and well-being.
3Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6in all your ways know him,
and he will make your paths straight.
7Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.
Proverbs 3:1-8
Nineteen ninety seven was a year of change for me.  In May I graduated from undergrad, moved 500 miles to Huntsville, had a summer position with NASA, began graduate school, bought a house, and accepted a position with TRW.  Karen changed jobs three times along with the location changes with me.  A few weeks into 1998 we found that we were expecting a son.  It was a year of wonderful change.  But, definitely full of much transition.

Transitions are hard.  The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale has 43 different life events and applies a number to represent how stressful that event is.  All of them are transition events.  Good or bad, transitions cause stress.  The joy of marriage, a new baby, a first house, completing a degree.  The pain of the death of a loved one, ending of a marriage, foreclosure of a home, loss of a job.  Change is hard, for good or for bad.  A psychology test isn’t needed to know that.

Life is a collection of transitions.  Just when I feel like I have a situation or stage in life figured out it changes.  That’s life.  Nothing remains the same.  I want consistency.  I want predictability.  Life gives me variability.  Life gives me surprise.  This is what life is.  If I don’t expect change or transitions in life I will be surprised at every turn.  I will sink in stress and become overcome by life.

Solomon teaches his children about life.  He tells his children truths of living.  When I face changes, I want advise.  I want to hear wisdom.  What do I do?  How should I handle this?  The Lord gives us this wisdom through Solomon.  Now it's our turn to heed this wisdom.  If we ignore this wisdom, it’s like we’ve looked into a mirror and immediately forget what we’re like.(James 1:23-24)

No matter the transitions you find yourself in, there will be stress.  But there are things we can remember during those transition times.  Remember your influence is not over, it is simply changing.  However, God remains the same through it all.

  1. What transitions do you find yourself in right now?
  2. Spend some time seeking His promises for your season of transition today.

---Zine Smith

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