The Times, They Are A-Changin

My life has been pretty crazy lately. Transition has been the name of the game, and I'm definitely still in the midst of this transition. For the most part transition as always been an energizing and exciting time in my life. This time, however, has definitely come with ups and downs, some much more difficult than others. But taking some time to reflect upon this turbulent time in my life has made me appreciate several things about transition. Here are a few:

1. Being in transition is, well, quite simply, human. We are constantly changing, especially believers in Christ (For we are being sanctified daily. Constantly being transitioned to be more like Christ.). So we shouldn't try to hide from transition/change. We need to embrace it as part of being human. Even into eternity with the Father, we will gain a greater and greater knowledge of God and find more and more joy in Him forever (it will be an ever-increasing transition through all eternity, for since God is infinite, there will always be more of Him to experience and enjoy).

2. God uses intense times of transition to refine us to be more like Him. These intense times of transition often test and try our faith, thus transition is often a form of God's discipline for us (not discipline in the sense of punishment but in the sense of refining us through a painful process). The author of Hebrews gives us great encouragement when facing times of discipline such as intense periods of transition: "He (God) disciplines us for our good, that we might share in his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:10-11)

3. Another aspect of being human, however, is that we long for consistency and stability, which is why transition can be so difficult and disheartening. For during those intense times of transition, we feel like nothing is constant. We have done everything we can possibly do to control our world in order to make it consistently how we would like it. Thus when we lose control, we lose that consistency that we long for so much. The problem is that we can't find that consistency in ourselves or anything else in this world. The author of Hebrews once again reminds us of the truth that we need to keep close at hand: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8) Jesus is to be our rock in this midst of this world of transition. We hope in His unchanging self and His unchanging promises.

This time of transition has stretched my faith, and I encourage you to embrace times of intense transition. For transition is a major part of how God is "working all things for the good of those who love him." Rest in His constancy and the promise of Romans 8:28.