How to Navigate Seasons of Change Effectively

When seasons change, we enter a process of transition. This process has a profound impact on our lives and it shapes our thoughts, identity and future. However, change is inevitable and regardless of the situation, I have found that times of transition will always reveal your character. This has been a point of focus for me as I move through various seasons of life. Your character is of great value, it is worth treating your time of transition with intentionality:

The Test of Transition 

When we leave one season of life and enter a new one it can be a difficult time as there are so many factors that we can’t control. That feeling of being out of control, being unfamiliar with a new situation can cause frustration, anxiety or some other negative emotion. In this frame of mind, it is very common to become critical of the process, the people and the pace of transition. It is important that we don’t allow this to be our default because how you leave a season will influence the next one. The way to counter this negative approach is to choose honor. Honor will change the way that you experience transition for the better. Honor is important to God. In fact, Honor is so important to God that He included it as one of the 10 most important commandments in the Old Testament. He also included it in the New Testament and connected a promise for those that honor. 

Commentators believe that the command was instituted in a parental relationship because that is the relationship that we experience earliest in life, and that honor is such a keyway to live that we should learn it from our youngest age. Honor releases God’s best for our lives. 

Transition with Honor

Recently, we had the opportunity to celebrate a change of season for my wife Janet. Janet is transitioning from her season of owning a business, being involved in the day-to-day details and stepping into doing more ministry. To celebrate this change, we threw her a party and made sure to create an atmosphere of honor. I gave a small speech and recognized the value that Janet had brought through her business, the many careers that she helped start, the awards that she had received, nominated for woman of the year in our city, an award for mid-size business of the year. I honored the way she used her business to build orphanages and help so many people in need. I also honored her for the number of people that have come to know Jesus through her and her business. 

I was not the only one to show honor. The new owners and many of the people that were in attendance also shared kind and encouraging words about Janet. My daughter demonstrated honor by decorating the location with excellence. Honor is not just limited to words; being considerate through actions also shows honor. The whole event brought peace to everyone who was in attendance and helped the process of transition rather than hindering it. 

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2 Anchors You Need for Stability During Transition

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Competency and Culture, Finding the Right Fit