I grinned country-mile wide as my friend, Jen, told me about her neighborhood’s propensity for playing practical jokes on one another. The entire gang good-naturedly gave as well as they got, and one time they got Jen and her family especially good.
The shenanigans were discovered on a late summer evening when Jen, her husband, and her three kids returned home from a family vacation. Jen, first through the front door, stepped into the dark entryway of their house. As she walked the familiar path from the entryway toward the living room to turn on a light, she startled herself by running right into a piece of furniture. Thrown for a loop, she immediately slowed her pace and felt around for what blocked her path. It appeared to be the coffee table.
“What in the world?” Jen said out loud. “Why is that here?”
After walking around the coffee table and stumbling into an armchair, she finally reached an end table holding a lamp. She turned it on, and then her mouth dropped open. While she and her family vacationed, the neighbors had snuck inside their home and played furniture Tetris by completely rearranging their living room sofa, tables, chairs, and bookcase.
Grinning wryly, Jen took in the scene before her as her family members trickled in. They stared at the same room with their belongings, but everything was situated in an entirely new way — even the rugs and kids’ toys were in unfamiliar locations. Until they could either get used to the new arrangement or put everything back the way it was, Jen and her family had to walk around that room a little differently, a little more slowly.
When you walk through a new season of change, isn’t it much the same? Until you get used to the new lay of the land, you must take your time and take it slow.
In her book, The Art of Slow Writing, author Louise DeSalvo talks about how after 9/11, many novelists had to relearn how to work and write. She says, “When our lives change, when the world changes, we must reinvent ourselves as writers.”
This is true for any of us walking through a new season, writer or not. In a way, we must reinvent ourselves as we move through our lives when they look so foreign from before. At the very least, we must get used to the new circumstances and move around them differently.
This doesn’t mean you won’t have to move quickly through some of the changes your new season brings. But it does mean you will give your heart the time it takes to process through these changes. It means you will not shame or talk down to yourself for taking this time. Change can move our bodies into new territory, and it may take our hearts and souls a little time to catch up. We must give ourselves the gift of rest for this to happen.
We must resist the urge to rush towards panic as we refuse to move through this season alone.
In the quiet of the morning or the still of the evening or the calm-before-the-storm of the 3:15pm carpool line, we can take time to sit in the presence of Jesus in this new stage of life. As we do so, we can consider a Scripture reference that reflects God’s promises:
Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in mighty waters . . .
Isaiah 43:16-17 (ESV)
There’s no obstacle change brings that God does not bring a way through. There’s no change we encounter that God is not master over. There’s no season we experience that He doesn’t provide us with endurance.
We may have babies graduating kindergarten or high school and mothers or grandmothers moving into nursing homes. We might have job transitions and family transitions that require must-do steps and things to prepare. But one thing we don’t have to do is rush our hearts and souls through this season. Do what you need to do on the outside, but let God do His good work on the inside in His good timing. Hear Him speak to your heart, “When you’re tempted to despair about this change, just reorient your heart’s location to me, because I never, ever change.”
This is no joke: As difficult change comes into your life, Jesus walks with you through it. Take your time with Him, and take it slow. You don’t need to stumble or trip your way toward the Light. The Light is right beside you, illuminating the way one step at a time.
There's no obstacle change brings that God does not bring a way through. - @Kristen_Strong: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Kristen, you do have a gift for detoxifying change. We have a big one coming on the horizon–one we did not want or anticipate–so I’m storing the word “slow” in my heart and banking on the faithfulness of God, the Way Maker. (Thank you for the verse from Isaiah!)
Thank you for your kind words here, Michele. And yes, storing that same word in my own heart.
Sending love!
Kristen,
Change is no fun!! I have had a lot of changes over the past 9 years. Dad changed apartments the into assisted living then into hospital (geriatric psych),, nursing homes for rehab. Some changes were rather easy & others required a ton of God’s help to see me through. Like you stated “there’s no obstacle change brings that God does not bring a way through. He is always there waiting to help us navigate this new obstacle. Lysa Terkeurst says in her book: It’s Not Supposed to be This Way: nothing surprises God. No change we go through or disappointment we face is news to Almighty God. Everyone goes through various seasons of life. Each of us takes those changes differently. The only constant similarity is Jesus Christ. There to lend an ear to our pleas & walk us through our valleys. Psalm 23 is a good reminder of His care: “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for though art with me. Thy rod & staff they comfort me. Our great God is always ready to lend comfort & aid to us. We just need to run to Him.
P.S. Praying for you & your family. You went through a tough fall season with lots of changes. I pray God is healing your hurting souls. Losing a loved one is never easy. May God comfort you all as you walk the new path.
Blessings 🙂
I love your words about how the only consistency is Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thanks so much for sharing here, Beth. You’re a gift to this community!
Kristen,
Oh how I squirm and resist change. Truth is I love my rut, the familiar, the old slippers that fit my feet just right. Having moved around the country quite a bit and having moved through enough seasons in life, I take great comfort in this verse from Exodus: “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.” Exodus 23:20. It is reassuring to know that God sends an angel ahead of me to bring me to a special place that He, God, has prepared. He cares enough to go before me to ready the place to which I’m headed AND He guards me along the way to where I’m going. What comfort to know, that in change, we are never alone. God goes before us. He is with us, and He comes behind to hem us in. What an awesome Abba, Daddy we have. Great way to illustrate a point, Kristen!!
Blessings friend,
Bev xx
Thanks so much, Bev, for calling our attention to that verse in Exodus. It is a comfort to read that one again.
Sending love to you and yours. xo
Change looks manageable from your perspective. Knowing God will always help us find a way through is reassuring.
Thank you for pointing us forward and showing us that slow and steady wins the race.
Yes he will! Moving forward right alongside you, Mary. xo
Kristen, thank you. Sharing this with a suffering friend today.
I do hope it is a help and comfort to her. Sending love.
Kristen,
During what’s been a challenging time, that’s been hard to process, this was truly a blessing to read, thank-you for sharing, With the Lord there is nothing we can’t overcome.
Thus says the Lord who makes a way in the sea, a path in mighty waters.
Isaiah 43:16-17
It came out of my own challenging, hard-to-process time as well. Solidarity, Penny! God is ever for us. xo
This is a reminder for always but particularly right now. Plans that seemed spot on are no longer options, so giving (and receiving) grace during the transition is a reminder that God chose us and loves us through all of it.
Yes and amen. I love this, Cheryl. xo
You are a true God-send today…my little one that I’ve cared for for 2 years is beginning preschool Monday….and I have an 18 year old graduating high school in May….and my mom just turned 74 and is gradually needing more help…God bless you for these words!
Oh Alisha–that’s so much change! I’m praying right now for your mama heart as you move through every stage. You don’t move alone. Sending love, dear one.
Thank you for that post! Very encouraging. I also sent it to my friend who is going through very difficult waters.
I hope it encourages her as well. Thanks so much for sharing here, Linda. xo
Change is so inevitable in this life. Love your advice about not rushing our hearts and souls through the change. How much healthier we would be if we processed and made sense of the change, before rushing to the next change.
What an awesome message! It has taken me 8+ years to reorient my life after being diagnosed with a disease that has no cure and has led me to life in a wheelchair. As the disease progresses I find myself having to make near constant adjustments to the way I live my daily life. I’m the past couple of months, I have had learn how to safely manuever my power wheelchair using my left arm. I have been right side dominant for 69 years. I still need to learn to use my left hand and arm for more tasks, as my right arm strength is very limited. Yet, through all the changes and challenges God has given me just what I needed to make it through 9 hours 5 days a week while my husband was at work. I thank God for the husband he chose for me over 35 years ago, and for helping me to cope with daily life without help until husband retired nearly 30 days ago. Instead of struggling, being angry and frustrated with the changes, I feel blessed to have Jesus walking beside me or carrying me in my weakest times.
One sure thing…. God is always faithful to us… We remind ourselves to PRAISE HIM in ALL things…. Jesus Jesus…. Your name is Holy. Jesus, my Friend, you are with me always, I will not fear nor be discouraged.