Transitions: Navigating a New World

Transitions are inevitable. And quite honestly, some are easy and some are not.

When I first started wearing prescription glasses I got the swanky “transition” lenses because it sounded like a great idea!

When I walked out into the super bright sun for the first time, I loved them. That transition from clear to dark lenses was rewarding for sure.

But then… I walked back inside. And that transition was frustrating! It was so dark, I couldn’t see a thing, defeating the purpose of having the stupid glasses to begin with. It would take (what seemed like) FOREVER for those lenses to lose their opacity.

Needless to say, that was the last time I added the fancy transition feature to my glasses.

See, no two transitions are exactly the same, and even if they were, they would affect us all a little differently. They can be quick or slow. They can be exciting or painful.

But we will have them.

In fact, we are ALL living through a transition right now. We are living through history.

The particular transition we are currently experiencing is frustrating and scary. It’s amazing and encouraging. It can produce fear and anxiety. But it also can produce a stronger trust in the sovereign God who knew this was coming.

SARS-CoV19 (coronavirus) and COVID-19 (the disease it causes) did not sneak up on God.

To the one who is watching your rapidly falling 401K and wondering if you will be able to feed your family next month.

To the one comforting a child who is disappointed about the loss of their season or prom or performance or graduation.

To the one who is battling the virus in their frail body.

To the one home with kids, trying to stay positive while becoming a reluctant homeschooler… and feeling unqualified and overwhelmed by it.

To the one who is still working all day in addition to these things on the front lines in hospitals, pharmacies, and grocery stores.

To the one who is bored. To the one who is lonely. To the one who is exhausted. To the one who is frightened. To the one who feels hopeless.

Let me repeat my earlier statement. This crisis did not sneak up on God.

Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.”

Turn from dependence on your plans and turn to the God who is working all things together for your good if you are trusting Him (Romans 8:28).

He will hold you fast.

Know that we're all in this together (and yes, one of our Quarantine activities has been to watch all three High School Musical movies, LOL).

Even as we shelter-in-place in this difficult transition, let's pray that an entire world that is watching the coronavirus will see Jesus.