Transition and Transformation
I cannot believe I almost fell asleep in a public place. I’m not one to fall asleep easily, so to feel my eyes involuntarily shut was shocking. The symphony played on as I tried to push back against the slumber.
The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia is an extraordinary performance venue. The structure was created with the ingenious capability of certain panels being able to be moved or turned, causing the room to be perfectly tuned to each performance. This creates a melodic balance of perfection.[1] To my amazement, this perfection was causing me to feel so relaxed that I almost didn’t hear the end of the performance.
Harmony has a way of causing us to fall into deep rest.
Harmony is a musical term for a pleasing arrangement of sounds and notes, but it can also describe a moment when things “fit” together perfectly.
I feel like I was created to look for harmony…always seeking and searching for it. To my dismay, I tend to find the opposite here in this world. Our lives are full of twists and turns that disrupt those seasons of harmonious rest.
It is those major twists and turns that cause a transition in tranquility.
Transitions in life can be positive or negative.
We can all cheer for a job promotion, a newlywed couple, retirement, and a new baby. But even with the joy of these life changes, there is an in-between season of learning where things “fit.”
When life events cause pain – like the death of a loved one, a divorce, an illness, or a loss of normalcy – there is a season where harmony is disrupted and grief may overwhelm. We may find ourselves searching for where things “fit.”
My mentor is a wise and godly woman. She has taught me so much about these seasons of transition. Her invaluable advice comes from the pages of Scripture and her own precious life experiences. Here is how to restore harmony when life shocks you.
Grieve. Give yourself permission to feel all the emotions that come with the change. The Psalms are full of laments over the disappointments and challenges of life. As humans, we need to allow the sadness to pass through us. The challenge is to not get stuck in self-pity or grief. The lament psalms are a model to us of acknowledging the hardship but in the end, turning back to the Lord in faith and trust.
How do you prevent yourself from getting stuck? By putting cognitive handles on feeling what you feel. As the emotions surge, give them words either by journaling or by talking it out with a trusted friend.
Keep a normal schedule. We are creatures of habit. Routine helps us find equilibrium during a season in flux. Create a schedule that involves spending time with your Heavenly Father in prayer and Scripture reading. Physical activity will also keep us moving through the transition period both physically and mentally.
Embrace the change. To practice acceptance is a daily choice. Ask yourself, “What would it look like for me to embrace this change?” and then implement it.
Practice gratitude. When we are going through a transition, the novelty of the change wears off and the excitement sometimes turns into disdain for our new environment. You seem to notice all the things you hate about your situation. STOP. Don’t allow your joy to be stolen. If you look for the good, you will surely find it. Psalm 23:6 says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (ESV).
Every day we face, God’s goodness and mercy is there for us to find, but we have to put the effort in to look for it. Gratitude transforms our patterns of thinking, making room for His rest.
When listening to a musical piece, we innately look forward to the bridge or transition in the music. This is when a musical passage connects one section of music to another, often marking a moment of transformation.
The same could be said about our journeys in life. These transitions are moments of connection from the old to the new. They have the ability to shape our own beautiful transformation. We see where it all “fits” in the scheme of the bigger picture. Harmony is restored from a heart at rest.
“Blessed and greatly favored is the man whose strength is in You,
In whose heart are the highways to Zion.
Passing through the Valley of Weeping (Baca), they make it a place of springs;
The early rain also covers it with blessings.
They go from strength to strength [increasing in victorious power];
Each of them appears before God in Zion.”
Psalm 84:5-7 AMP (emphasis mine)
Written by Kori, Life in Messiah staff
Of the advice offered by Kori’s mentor (allowing yourself to grieve, keeping a consistent schedule, embracing the change, practicing gratitude), which practice comes most naturally to you in a season of change? Which practice is the most difficult?
Is there a psalm or another passage of Scripture that has helped you stay grounded in the Lord during a transition?
Do you sense the Lord leading you to reach out to someone who has suffered a loss or is in the middle of a hard season? How can you encourage them to take refuge and find rest in Him?
Endnotes:
[1] https://voithandmactavish.com/projects/the-kimmel-center-verizon-hall/