So much of life is about navigating transitions. Maybe they aren't big ones like graduating higher education, having kids, changing jobs or serious illnesses, some of us may not even recognize that there's a transition happening. But every year we navigate at least one transition of changing from one calendar year to the next, and most of us experience the transition between seasons, even changing out our clothing so that we're dressed appropriately for the weather each day. Some times we've got time to work through the transition like how kids have a break between grade levels (also known as summer vacation), but other times we're given just days or even hours to make adjustments so that we can get back to living our normal lives as soon as possible, often incorporating the changes into that normalcy.
Some of us are notoriously bad at navigating transitions, I have to admit I'm not always great at it. I struggle to accept the changes, struggle to incorporate them into the life I enjoy, and especially struggle with the way the changes distort the path that I thought I was traveling and making it a lot harder to see the destination I thought I was working towards. I've been struggling with a transition that was necessary for the past few months. It doesn't make it physically or logistically easier because it's a necessary transition, but it does help me to accept it and work it into my life with less doubt, frustration or avoidance than I might otherwise. Lately the question I've been using regularly to help me not get distracted by the transition or the delays I've been working through is "What is the next best thing for me to do?"
Sometimes all we can do as we work through transitions is put one foot in front of the other and take it one step at a time. Yes, it's frustrating to not be able to make as much progress as we are used to doing, or do all that we're used to doing, but doing something, the next most important thing, the next thing on your to do list, is not a bad thing. The other thing that helps keep the discouragement at a minimum and helps me ramp down the frustration are the few minutes each day I take for my devotions and give God the opportunity to remind me that He's got a plan, that He's my source of strength and that He won't leave me alone to face it all, and He won't let you navigate the transitions in your life alone either. Maybe the message I need to hear the most today (and you do too) is that it's OK to do your best and trust that God will do the rest as you navigate the transitions and challenges of life.
"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
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