I recently had a meeting with an old colleague of mine. I visited Connie (not her real name) and her husband David at their home. Connie had lost her job as an executive recently and was depressed. She went from all the activity that came with having an 80 hour a week job to being home by herself. What do I do asked Connie? The advice I gave Connie and her husband is what I am about to share today.
Connie, like many people today, is simply going through a transition. Transitions are not bad but must be handled with the right perspective. A biblical perspective. Three steps to take when passing through a transition are:
1. Be thankful to God: For life and for the opportunity He has provided for you to experience what you have so experienced so far. As scriptures declare:
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name – Psalm 100:4
2. Reflect: On how far you’ve come and what has brought you to this point – Try as much as you can to connect the dots. This step often reveals what is the next thing to do and shows where you are transitioning into.
3. Ask, What is God doing now? – This is a vital questions to ask in prayer and if done with sincerity and humility, will open doors. God will begin to reveal, through his word, through friends, through dreams, through personal reading – what it is that you are to do and how you are to do it. Where it is that you are transitioning to. This must be done with faith in the scripture that:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose – Romans 8:28
Transitions, while uncertain and sometimes painful, can provide a time of respite, a time of recharge and the great opportunity for realignment. Realignment to your true calling in life. If you are currently going through a transition, be it a job loss, the loss of a dear family member, a geographical move or relationship loss – remember, all is not lost. You are transitioning to something greater. Determine to take advantage of this situation in launching to the future God has prepared for you.
Uché
