Triumph in Transition

Transitions are a natural (though often uncomfortable) part of life. I’ve not always handled them as gracefully as I would’ve liked. However, after experiencing more than my share, I’ve walked away with wisdom to triumph through any transition.

When I originally wrote this blog, my family had walked through a significant change, and we were able to do so with grace because of the wisdom we gained from previous seasons. Here are some of the tips and tricks we’ve found to help us thrive in seasons of change:

1. Recognize when your season is about to change

The first challenge we face regarding transitions is recognizing when our season has shifted. Every year we go through four seasons, and spiritually we shift from season to season as well (though the timeframes may be different).

I have counseled many people preparing for a transition who didn’t realize they were beginning a transitional season. When you don’t recognize the change, you tend to experience frustration and unnecessary pain. Imagine, for example, you didn’t realize summer shifted into fall. You continued wearing your summer clothes despite the changing weather and attempted to participate in the same activities (swimming outside, playing at the park, etc.). You would be cold and miserable and may not understand why. You might even become angry with God.

This may seem silly, but how many of us have become frustrated when our season shifted before we recognized it was time for a change?

If you read the book of Exodus you see how the Israelites struggled with their own transitions, so much so that they ended up wandering in the desert for 40 years, and many never reached their Promised Land. They complained, questioned God, and made poor decisions. Trust me when I say:

The way you handle transition is pivotal to your purpose.
Katie J Trent

So how do you avoid this common pitfall?

*Be mindful of when things begin to shift around you at home, work, school, or church.

Do you suddenly find yourself frustrated at a place that used to bring you great joy? Are you feeling antsy and restless in an area? Are relationships shifting? Have you experienced more closed doors than open? These may all be clues preparing you for a shift.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes there may be something you need to change within yourself if you experience these symptoms. Take time to pray and press into God and His Word. Seek wise counsel, and above all, don’t act hastily. Wait on the Lord (and keep reading…)

MY 1ST MAJOR TRANSITION (DISASTER)

I’ll never forget our 1^st major transition where we didn’t recognize God’s attempts to prepare us. My husband began struggling at his job. It seemed like everything fell apart. He became frustrated and felt defeated. He began to question God. I prayed, but didn’t understand why James struggled so much. The tension created distance between us and I couldn’t figure out how to support him.

We took a weekend to visit a pastor friend of ours. He ministered to us and said he felt like the Lord wanted me to cling to this verse:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

I distinctly remember scoffing and thinking the pastor got it wrong. That word HAD to be for my husband. He was the one struggling, not me. Life was great for me! What could possibly go wrong?

Looking back, I wish we had taken the next 24 hours to really pray and press into God–to seek His wisdom and will (or better yet, that we had done so when the shifting first began). Instead, we went about our lives and when we returned home the next day, James was terminated from his job. We had 2 weeks to be out of our staff housing.

Jobless, homeless, directionless, and penniless.

We were shocked. We just spent what little money we had the day before on our anniversary trip. With no idea where we should go or what we should do, we were at the most significant crossroads of our life, and totally unprepared.

Fortunately, God is gracious and He showed up in amazing ways despite our failures. The word spoken over me brought such peace and assurance that I was able to press on from that moment and walk in great faith throughout the process. To this day, that scripture is my life verse. God moved in mighty ways, but I recognize now how He tried to prepare us for the transition all along. We definitely failed the tests and ended up walking into our next season hurt and frustrated.

My heart’s prayer for you is that you learn from my mistakes and begin to thrive in every transition you experience.

Practical Tips to Thrive in Every Season:

Once you recognize the shifting, take time to pray and seek the Lord. Ask God to reveal whether His Grace has shifted in preparation for change, or if there is something within you that needs adjusting.
Draw close to God and do not pull away from Him. Press in and wait. Don’t react out of your flesh, but be prepared to respond in obedience to whatever the Lord may speak.
Recognize your season, but don’t try to rush through it. You cannot speed it up. In fact, if you try, you may just slow it down. God’s timing is perfect, and you need to embrace this discomfort and allow God to refine you through the fire.

You will need the refinement for your next assignment!
Katie J Trent

“If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.”
– James 1:5 AMP

Stand on the Word of God, and reflect on God’s specific promises over your life to stay encouraged. Never allow your circumstances to taint your image of God.
Finish your assignment. Stay focused and utilize every moment to diligently pursue what God has called you to in this season (we will dive further into this concept in the next post).
Use the time to equip yourself. Think about the desires on your heart and find ways to utilize your time wisely as you prepare to transition. You’ll be glad you did.

Here are a few of my favorite verses when I recognize my season is about to change, but don’t yet know what it will look like or when it will happen (FREE DOWNLOAD BELOW).

YES! I want my FREE DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT DOWNLOAD!

2. Don’t learn the same lesson twice

Many of us go through life experiencing similar challenges in different seasons. I believe this is largely due to the fact that we don’t learn our lesson the first time. Personally, I prefer not to spend 40 years wandering in the desert when the promised land is just on the other side of adversity. So how do we avoid repeating lessons and unnecessary suffering?

3 Keys to Learning Your Lesson the First Time:

1. Take time to reflect on lessons learned as you prepare to transition seasons.

Spend time with God and ask Him to reveal the purpose of your pain or the reason for your season. Write down what you learned during your current season and how you have grown from it.

A few years ago I began to implement this practice, and it has become an invaluable habit. It has allowed me to reflect on God’s grace and faithfulness through my previous season (and even in the midst of the transition), and to take time to recognize how much God has grown and matured me. I get a glimpse into His plans and how the experiences/people I encountered have shaped me and impacted my journey. I am also able to step back and assess areas I still need to grow so I can be intentional in addressing those character flaws in the midst of the transition.

2. Praise and worship God in the midst of transition.

Thank Him for what He is doing currently in your life, no matter how difficult your season may have been, and praise Him for all He will do in your next season.

This step cannot be understated. There is so much power in our praise.

“And not only this, but [with joy] let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance, proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character, hope and confident assurance [of eternal salvation].”
– Romans 5:3-4 AMP

It unlocks immeasurable blessings and joy in our life:

“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
– James 1:12 AMP

Sing a shout of praise to the Lord right now (seriously, now). Thank Him for His love and faithfulness. He is the all-knowing and all-powerful Creator of the Universe. Nothing is too difficult for Him and He loves and cares for you. Thank Him for all He has done and will do.

3. Utilize your time effectively.

Now, I must admit, this is the area I find most difficult in the midst of transition. There are moments where I just want to shut down or go into hibernation. I want to crawl under the covers and escape the stress and pain as I wait on the Lord.

It is important to intentionally invest our time because transitions provide a great opportunity to re-prioritize our life. For me, I spend a significant amount of time in prayer, Bible reading, fasting, and listening to encouraging podcasts/reading books to help me in my season. I try to put aside television and other things that monopolize my spare time and really commit myself to growing deeper with the Lord.

Which area is most challenging for you? Be intentional to dive into that area. Don’t allow the enemy to distract or discourage you in the midst of your transition season.

Press in to the preparation.
Katie J Trent

^“So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.”
– James 4:7-10 MSG

3. Finish Strong!

It is easy to make mistakes in the midst of a transition. I’ve made so many I’m actually writing a book on the topic. In my experience, people who crash and burn in transition typically fall into one of two common traps.

Both of these mistakes can actually prolong your season. Not only that, but they can wound you in a way that leaves scars and impacts your effectiveness in the next season.

Avoid Common Pitfalls:

1. Attempting to Accelerate the Transition:

Pain is uncomfortable. We are conditioned to minimize pain whenever possible. Transitions tend to be extremely difficult, and often painful. Many times we attempt to accelerate our transition to avoid the pain, causing us to step out of alignment with God.

Being out of alignment is never a good place to be, but is especially dangerous in transition. Imagine if you directed traffic and decided to take an unscheduled break. If you walked off your post before your replacement arrived, you would leave the intersection (and countless people) in the thralls of chaos. Many lives would be impacted.

Now, you may think no one would be hurt in your case, but the truth is, we are called to impact the world around us. We each have assignments with eternal weight and consequences. You never know the seeds you may plant as your season shifts or the harvests you may reap before you transition.

Be patient in the process and commit yourself to seize every opportunity. When I look back on previous seasons, I am amazed at how many connections were made and miracles God performed right up until the end. The best is yet to come.

“But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].”
– Acts 20:24 AMP

2. Checking Out Before Your Race is Over:

Sometimes, even though we stay positioned until released, we unknowingly check out of our current season emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This may happen because we turn our attention and affection to dreaming of the upcoming season too soon, or simply check out because the current one has become too difficult or uncomfortable to bear.

This can be even more dangerous than the first trap because deception steps in when you believe you are doing what you are supposed to, but you’re just going through the motions with a wrong attitude.

Imagine if the traffic director remained present but didn’t pay attention to the job. Mistakes would surely happen, and again, people would get hurt. Or consider the consequences if they trained their replacement but didn’t do it well.

We are called to do everything as unto the Lord. Doing anything without our full heart and effort does not honor or please God.

“Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.”
– Colossians 3:23-25 MSG

Transitions can be the greatest test of our faith and obedience. Commit yourself to finish your season in excellence and watch how God propels you into your purpose!

Are you in a transition? Leave a comment and share what you’ve learned along the way…

Blessings,