As summer is winding down and the first breeze of autumn slowly enters in, it is evident that change is in the air. All throughout the bible, we find evidence of change and transitions. Yet what remains most important in times and seasons of change and transitions, is not necessarily primarily the change itself (although important as it may be), but rather what’s central is what the Lord is doing within each of our lives to forge greater faith and build stronger spiritual muscle for the things that lie ahead. As we currently find ourselves in a season of big change, I find strength and even greater confidence in the truth of God’s Word found in Philippians 1:6 which says, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
We know and trust that in the midst of any big change that we find ourselves in this life, that as we are surrendered to Christ, He will take anything that we walk through and work it for our good, to strengthen us, help us, instruct and empower us to crossover into a greater revelation of Him in us and a deeper faith forged in Him. I’ve found these four simple keys can greatly help whenever we find ourselves in seasons of transition and change. I hope that you find these helpful wherever you’re at right now and in the future as God continues to form you more and more into the image of His glorious Son!

#1 See Through Eyes of Faith (Heb 11:1 & 2 Cor 4:18) Setting our eyes on that which is eternal verses that which fades away helps us to see more of what the Lord is doing in the bigger picture of our lives. As we posture our hearts to look to Him and see through Heaven’s perspective, most often we discover so much more of what God is doing in the journey rather than what we can only see at face value when looking at the temporal and not the eternal. Opening our eyes of faith through hearts united with Jesus helps us to see things from His perspective and insight as we perceive change and prepare to crossover into the new that God has for us. “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

#2 Let Go of the Old/the Past & Release It To Jesus (Isa 43:18-19 & Phil 3:13-14) In order for us to be able to move forward into the new things that God has for us from transition into the new season, we must process with Holy Spirit our emotions, feelings, disappointments, unanswered questions, etc., and then surrender them fully over to Jesus. To move forward means we cannot be tethered to or held back by the things of the past. We must release all to Jesus and let go of these things in order to hold on to Him. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

#3 Trust God & Thankfully Praise Him. (Prov 3:5-6 & Ps 9:10) In the letting go of the old and laying hold of the new, we must choose to make the active choice to trust in the Lord and in His goodness to work His good plans in our lives. We enter His courts with thanksgiving and pass through His gates with praise (Ps 100:4). This may seem simple, but I assure you that there are endless layers of revelation of learning to trust God all throughout our lives as we grow in faith. To choose to trust in Him is to choose not to trust in something or someone else (placing our faith and trust in our bank accounts, jobs, retirement plan, people in front of God, etc). God invites us uniquely in seasons of change to trust in Him in NEW ways! Knowing His goodness and trusting in His faithfulness are key to thriving in times of transition. “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

#4 Faithfully Follow His Leading (Ps 32:8 & Ps 25:14) In order to faithfully follow God, we have to deny ourselves which means our flesh-oriented ways of thinking and planning. Jesus teaches us in Matthew 16:24-26 that in order to follow Him, we must first deny ourselves, pick up our cross and then proceed after Him. This exchange offers God our self reliance on our flesh, and trades it for complete dependance on Him. As we choose to depend on and trust in the Lord through a holy awe of Him, God promises to reveal His covenant to us which includes everything good and lasting in this life. “The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”

So, if you find yourself in a season of transition and change, remember these four simple keys and practice them in your daily devotion time. Even if you are not directly in a season of big change, you are indeed changing, day by day, as you grow in faith and continue following Jesus, growing to become more and more like Him. Bless you beloved family! We pray that this teaching strengthens you with might in your inner spirit man through the power of the Holy Spirit!!

~Nicholas