As our family made the massive move across the world just a few short weeks ago, my mind was occupied with many things, but one thing I kept dwelling on was this question: How does the gospel speak into the transitions in life?
I’ve been thinking on this topic as I packed up our home, sold our things, and said the hard goodbyes that come with a big move across the globe. I’ve wrestled with this in my heart as the tears flowed because I didn’t want to leave our amazing community, as I packed bag after bag to be loaded on the airplane, and as I talked with my kiddos through the hard goodbyes. I have struggled through setting my heart on these truths as we have waited for what God has next for us and for some direction.
Maybe you’ve made a big move like this before or maybe you’ve just moved across town, maybe you’ve faced other big transitions like bringing a newborn into your home, starting a new job, or losing a loved one. So much of life is lived in transition, so how does the gospel speak into these seasons of life that we are all in at one point or another? How do we find hope on the hard days of transition and in the expectant days of what’s to come? How do we fix our eyes on Jesus and have a gospel saturated heart amidst it all?
Well, I’m no expert at this, but God has taught me a thing or two in all of the transitions I’ve faced during my lifetime so far…there’s been a whole lot of them and they seem to come often, so I thought I’d share a few of the lessons God has been teaching me through them and how the gospel applies to this seemingly often place we find ourselves in in life.
Looking at Scripture…
Let’s first take a look at Scripture. Does it speak to the transitions in life and the seasons we go through? How does God meet those who have gone before us?
It doesn’t take long to see people moving and life changing drastically for people in the Bible. In fact, one of the biggest transitions ever happens in the first few pages!
In the beginning God creates His beautiful handiwork and places His created people in the Garden of Eden. They walked with God and communed with God. Shortly after this, their entire world shattered when they ate the fruit from the tree that God commanded them not to eat. They had to leave the Garden of Eden, their home in which they worshipped and adored their Creator without the affects of sin. Their sin had driven them away from their home and more importantly, away from God.
As we travel through the Scriptures, we see this constant theme of God’s people moving. God calls Abram to take his family and move to the place He promises them. Later we see the Israelites called out to be God’s people from the land of Egypt by God’s great power. And still later Ruth and Naomi travel to find refuge in a new land. We see this happen all throughout the Bible! Whether it was being called out to worship God, being pushed out because of disobedient hearts, moving because of famine, drought, or war, or for the spread of God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth, the people of God have always been in transition and moving around the globe.
In fact, Jesus himself was always moving around! He was traveling to heal, to preach, and to proclaim His Kingdom. We even hear that he had nowhere to lay his head in Luke 9.
How did God meet those in the Bible throughout life’s transitions?
God was continually faithful to His people and His promises no matter what circumstances they found themselves or put themselves in. Straight away after Adam and Eve disobey, God sends them out of the garden, but He clothes them, provides for them, and gives them grace. He continues to allow them to have a relationship with Him and He draws near to them. Then, throughout all of the life lived throughout the Scriptures, the refrain “go and I will be with you” is key. And it is through these times that they learn to trust God, rely on Him, and that He transforms them into a people for His praise and name.
“I am with you.”
Check out just a few key places with the proclamation that God will be with His people as they go:
“Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham” Genesis 26:3
“But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:11-12
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua1:9
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;” Isaiah 43:1-3a
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20
Throughout all the transitions, moving, and crazy seasons people faced, God was always faithfully with them wherever they went, walking alongside them, taking care of them along the way, and being faithful to be who He said was and to His promises.
Learning to Trust God
All of the hard seasons filled with change brought opportunities to learn to trust in God and to deepen their faith in God. As they waited on God, they had to trust and rely on who He says that He is and the promises He has made.
Take Moses for example. God called him to be the leader who would ask Pharaoh, the king of Egypt to let his people go free. He was terrified! He didn’t believe in himself or his abilities. He also got rejected tons of times by Pharaoh. But each step of the way, his trust in God and confidence in His promises grew and by God’s power, he grew stronger and more courageous. God built his spiritual muscles to endure hardship, rejection, and caused him to depend on God all the more. (See the book of Exodus for this amazing story!)
Now most of the stories reveal to us that the people aren’t great at trusting in God, but often turn to their own power or might. Each story shows us that it is God who draws near, brings His people through each season, and their stories bring us to praise Him for His faithfulness in all times.
Related: Trusting in the Promises of God
God Works to Transform His People for His Praise
It is often through times of change, hardship, and transition that God uses to transform His people into His likeness to be a people who declare His praise. A simple truth about transition is that life is one big transition as God changes us to be conformed to Christ.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.” Romans 8:28-30
Much of this time of growth isn’t pretty, but is filled with hard days marked by persevering faith that God provides. And as He is with us, draws near, and changes us, He produces character and hope in Him through the Spirit.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
The Final Transition
The transitions of life have a way of reminding us that the state of this world is not our final home. Our final home is when God ushers in His New Creation.
“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4
Because of Christ’s redeeming power by His death and resurrection, there’s hope for every believer both today and for all eternity. The New Creation brings with it a world where the pain of transition is gone, the struggle to trust God and rely on His presence is no more, and where He makes all things new. So, while our home may change, people may come and go, life may have its ups and downs, we know that each of these moments are times that God is actively redeeming His creation and working to make all things new that He has made. And one day, this big transition will be complete.
So, where’s the hope for today’s transitions?
This all shows us that there’s nothing new under the sun as we look at the life of many in the Bible- transition has always been happening, but how does this fill us with the hope of the gospel for the transitions we are experiencing today?
As we see this big picture view of the gospel from Creation, to the Fall, to the Redemption through Christ, and into the New Creation, we see a God that is working all things out for His praise and renown in all the earth. He is our hope, joy and peace! Here are some truths we can cling to as we find our hope in Jesus, in the gospel, and in God’s goodness amidst the changing seasons of life.
- Seasons of change grow our trust in God and ability to rely on Him, knowing that He is in complete control. This can be so hard as we wait for what’s next, as we settle into a new rhythm of life, or as our lives are in a bit of upheaval. But the truth that God is fully trustworthy is one that we can cling to and rely on as He builds our trust in Him in the unknown. Knowing He is sovereignly in control can bring peace and dependence on His plan and goodness in all of life.
- God is working mightily in these times in our hearts, our families, and our communities. During times of transition, we need to actively open our eyes to see how God is working, transforming us, and refining our character. We need to look out and see not only how God is working in us, but also how He is working to use us in this season for His glory. It can be so hard to have eyes to see beyond our current stress or circumstances, but we can ask God to show us, change us, and use us even in times of transition.
- Times of transition are not wasted times! God is always working to conform us to the image of His Son and to extend His praise to the nations. In fact, it’s in times such as these that I’ve seen God work the most in my heart to grow my heart to praise Him and to refine my heart to His. These are deeply influential times in our lives and in the lives of those around us as they observe our trust in God along the way.
- Change is a time to actively give thanks to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who is with us every step of the way! No matter what season we’re in, we can have confidence that God is present with us, cares, and can bring us His perfect peace. For that we give Him great thanks and praise!
See also: Psalms of Thanksgiving to God to help you give thanks with a joyful heart! - Prayer is a key to allowing God to work in these times. In all the waiting, unknown, and change, we must give each moment over to the Lord, trusting in His goodness along the way and surrendering our own plans to Him.
- God is our complete satisfaction and fulfillment. These times bring us to our knees reminding us that Jesus is our true satisfaction; He is all we need. It is not our home, our schedule, our comforts, or our own securities that keep us secure, it is our good Savior who is with us, loves us, cares, and fully satisfies every longing of our hearts.
- Lastly, in many ways, life is one big transition as God is actively working to redeem all things for His glory. We are all in process as God is changing us, redeeming us, and restoring all of His creation. Praise God for His faithfulness!
Romans 8 gives great hope as we gaze on God’s plan of redemption and our current and future hope in Him alone!
“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our heartsknows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
Romans 8:22-30
Change is hard, transitions are messy, unknowns can be scary…but we have a God who is faithful, He is with us, and He is always working in every season of life to transform and redeem His creation to display His glory. Let’s trust Him and lean on Him in the hard, messy, unknowns of life’s transitions. All for His glory and praise!
*Check out The Gospel in Our Everyday Lives for more on applying the gospel to these everyday moments and seasons of life.
