My oldest daughter had lived at eight addresses by the time she started Kindergarten. That’s a lot of boxes, packing tape, and paperwork. It’s a lot of dusting off old things and a lot of finding new things (dentists and banks, and a new favorite donut shop). It’s also a lot of leaving and loss. It’s a lot of transition.
Sometimes these changes felt exciting. There was the thrill of trying something new. Because sometimes transitions are fun. There can be a sense of adventure in starting a new project, meeting new people, or even moving to a new city. We moved so much that sometimes we would leave boxes in storage for months at a time, so when we finally unpacked everything, it felt like Christmas morning.
Transition usually comes in one of two ways. We choose it, or it’s thrust upon us. Either way, when the dust settles, we are left navigating the mountain of paperwork and feelings. There are resumes to send, applications to fill out, papers to sign, medical records to transfer, utilities to set up, and addresses to change. Even if you’re not moving to a new city or a new home, any transition can feel at least a little disruptive to everyday family life. A child might be entering a milestone school year, moving from elementary to middle or middle to high school. A now-grown kid could be leaving for college. You might start a new job, start working in an office when you used to work from home, or join a new team at work. Maybe you’re welcoming a new baby to the family or grieving the loss of a loved one.
In seasons of transition, the swiftness and often unexpectedness of these times (even if they’re mostly positive) can leave us feeling uprooted and unsteady. And they say kids are resilient, but they’re not indestructible.
So, how do we model a faith that leads through transitions and instills hope in our kids when life is anything but predictable?
Through my family’s many moves and significant life transitions, we learned to lean on a few things that were rock solid when everything else felt like shifting sand.
Lean on Lasting Community
Times of transition can be some of the most isolating seasons of life. With every transition, there’s a sense of hope and a sense of loss. Major transitions like new schools or a move to a new town may come with physical separation from friends and familiar places. There is a loss of comfort and familiarity.
In these seasons, we found great comfort in leaning on family. These were always growing times in our marriage and with our kids. They were times when we found a wide-open door to talk about feelings, grief, and gratitude.
When most of life felt like it had been pulled up like a weed, I looked to the people who had been by my side before and who were still by my side after. God gives us precious gifts through marriage and our children; transitions can be a time to build deeper bonds with these most treasured relationships. We’re certainly not meant to navigate these seasons alone; God designed us to need one another:
Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 CSB
Remember God’s Faithfulness
Our family recently went through a major transition. For those looking from the outside, it might not have seemed like a big deal. But for us, over the course of a year, we made decisions that would affect our kids’ school, where we lived, who we did life with on a daily basis, and our finances. When we shared with our kids the decisions we were making, they didn’t necessarily wholeheartedly agree with us. They asked why. They expressed some disappointment. But God. We knew God was with us in every decision, caring for us and for our kids. We trusted Him. He has always taken care of us, and we know He will always take care of us. Through a season of transition and uncertainty, we were intentional to speak boldly and plainly of God’s goodness to our kids.
It’s always good to remind ourselves of these truths, too, when we’re not sure what the future holds:
How has God been faithful in the past?
How has He pulled you through against all odds?
What stories in the Bible remind you of God’s faithfulness?
I often look to the story of Abraham. When we read his story, we usually start with Genesis 12, when God calls him to leave home and go to a new land that God would show him. But this wasn’t Abraham’s first transition. In Genesis 11:31, Terah, Abraham’s father, moved the family from Ur to Haran. They were supposed to go to Canaan but settled in Haran instead. (Isn’t that like how so many of our life changes go? We were on our way to do this, BUT we ended up somewhere else entirely. God is in all the details!) It’s while Abraham is in Haran (this in-between place) that God speaks to him and tells him it’s time to move on.
And Abraham obeyed. He didn’t quite know where he was going or what would be waiting for him when he got there. But he trusted the Lord. Scripture says:
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and set out for a place that he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8–10, CSB
I love this so much because I think when we are in the middle of a transition, what we want most of all is something solid. Something that feels sure and steady. Abraham trusted through transitions because he was looking forward to a future and an eternal home that would never change—a place with a firm foundation.
A Helper Who Is Always Found
Through Abraham’s life transitions, the Bible records several times that Abraham paused to build an altar to acknowledge God’s presence in his life and in that place (Genesis 12:8; 13:4).
When his surroundings were unfamiliar and the people around him were unpredictable, he acknowledged the one who was always constant. God was the one who was there before and will be there after:
The Lord is the one who will go before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.
Deuteronomy 31:8, CSB
In seasons of transitions, we can lean on the everlasting, all-powerful arms of our loving Father. He is the solid rock, the firm foundation—both here and now, and forever. With him, there is no variation or change (James 1:17). There is no disappointment or fear. There is no loss or leaving. We are held in his hands, always.
God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas.
Psalm 46:1–2, CSB
I haven’t seen the mountains topple into the sea, but I have certainly walked through seasons when everything felt shaken and shattered. But God. He was with us every time we wrapped another box in packing tape. He was with us when our kids started a new school. He’s been with us through every new job and new family member. He is our refuge and strength, and no matter how life changes around us, He will always be found in every season.
If you and your family are finding yourself in a season of transition, and life feels a bit chaotic, take some time to listen to the Spotify podcast below with MomQ founder, Candace Nassar, and author of Majoring in Motherhood, Emily Schuch. They discuss the challenges of motherhood, the importance of living out the gospel in parenting, and the struggles of self-empowerment and mom guilt. Emily shares her personal experiences and insights on how motherhood serves as a mirror reflecting our own weaknesses and the grace we need to embrace. The conversation emphasizes the significance of faith, encouragement, and the humor found in the glorious chaos of motherhood.
At MomQ we believe that motherhood is a calling from God. While it is both a privilege and an honor, it is by no means easy! Moms have a lot of questions/concerns and need caring support along their journey. Whether you are a brand new mom or a little more seasoned, MomQ is here to help you fulfill your God given role. Don’t see a group in your area? Contact us today about starting one in your community!
Follow Us
facebookinstagramspotifydbdb-apple
