Life, the Great Transition

I have been reflecting this morning on a recent conversation  with a friend. There was a tension, a fear, a worry expressed over the possibility of finding oneself in a prolonged state of transition. An observance made of others who are seemingly in a never-ending state of transitory situations stirred an uneasy platform from which to view life's current and uncertain future environments.

As I prayed for my friend this morning God reminded me that all of life is transition. The magnificent transition from life to death to life and again to death--physical birth accompanied by spiritual death to spiritual life everlasting for those who believe in and call on His name to physical death accompanied by eternal spiritual life. It is all transition. How do we label the path we trod? Does the term "transition" lend itself to a bad, depressing outlook or is it one that produces a deeper faith, trust, hope and contentment?

Often the grand transition is played out in the tension created when two Kingdoms collide and we cannot decipher which pieces to pick up nor which King to take instruction from; the Kingdom of our Lord and Christ or the Kingdoms born of this world. Who dictates the paradigm by which we live and move and have our being?

Actual, real peace is only found in a vibrant relationship with God. Indeed, we are only ever truly settled in Him. No matter the events of life or the places we reside, be they at the moment a place of suffering or not, the truth remains, "The God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

If you are at this moment in the continuum of time where you thought you would or should be, give thanks to God. But, if you are not living your dream, whatever that is, yield yourself to "Him who strengthens, establishes and settles you."

Whatever life's circumstances are and how we term such circumstances don't define us, but will contribute either positively or negatively to how we weather life's events. The perfect or second choice academic pursuit; the perfect or stepping-stone career; the perfect mate having arrived or how we find ourselves still waiting; childless or a full house; full nest or empty; city or remote county; etc. Do we demand perfection according to our own narrow-minded definition or are we able to trust fully in Him as we walk the path? And where is our path located? Firmly rooted in His Kingdom or our own?

Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." There is an unsettled, restless state we find ourselves in when we fail to recognize God as the loving, pursuing Father. "He Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5.

When we allow ourselves to glean encouragement from His word, His ways and His Kingdom purposes we gain strength in Christ. Philippians 4:13 speaks truth in the powerful words, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul's immediate context was in regard to whether or not he had much or little with which to live life, but if he could manage to live with very little or live with very much materially, certainly he also could live contentedly in circumstances that were "less than" or "more than" his expectation. In fact, the beginning part of the verse above in which God promises to never leave us states that we are to "let our conduct be without covetousness, but to be content with such things as we have." Putting these two together we see that because God is always with us we have no needs unmet, therefore there is no place for craving what we don't have, both materially and in regard to the stages of life through which we pass. Here is more encouragement from Him, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not sweep you away; when you walk through the fire, will not be burned, and the flame will not scorch you." Isaiah 43:2
   
What is our perceived perfect scenario? Is that more god to us than God Himself? All of us are susceptible to worshiping life and the stuff of it rather than the One who gave it. Forgive us Lord, and HELP us.

Beloved, we are already IN GOD'S PLAN, not waiting for it. Trust Him especially when it doesn't match up to what we think it should be or when it should be or where it should be.

Transition implies I am not where I am supposed to be. In God's Kingdom we live in constant assurance that we are where we were destined to be. Destined by His right hand. There is no transition. No "less than" moment or stepping stone to the "real" arrival. We are always in Him, living and moving and having our being in His Kingdom, for His purposes. Secure, assured, confident, blessed. Regardless of how our eyes, mind or heart interpret our situation, Kingdom truth is that we are written in the palm of His hand and all our days were planned before they came to be. He has known us since before the foundation of the world. Surely we are in the right place!