If you have ever experienced change, this post is for you. If you push back against change, this post is for you. When change is not what you asked for, this post is for you. If you are learning how to transition well during change, this post is for you.
The last six months, almost seven months, have taken us on the ride of our lives. If you are like me, you are holding on just to maneuver your way into the next day. Let’s put the pandemic aside for a minute and dive deeper into change and how to transition without fighting back.
Life Transitions are Real
On a day-to-day basis, I am pivoting from one activity to the next. If we name these, we will soon discover that they are transitions. They happen so quickly that many times we don’t realize we have changed directions or moved onto the next activity.
Life transitions are the pivots that move us from one season of our life to another. Here’s an example: A few years before I retired from teaching, I was working as an Instructional Coach supporting the teachers in the classroom, rather than teaching in the classroom. A huge change was on the horizon that blindsided me and instead of finishing up as a coach, I went back into the classroom to teach. It was unexpected, an immense change in direction, and the best way to end my teaching career. There was a lot about this transition I did well and more that I could have done better.
Life transitions look like job changes, job loss, starting a family, getting sick, caring for aging parents, questioning your faith, losing a loved one, and the list goes on. Think about a life adjustment you experienced as you go through the rest of this post and learn how to transition well during change.
Transitions are not Always Bad
I chose a big transition about two and a half years ago. A message pinged into my inbox and the rest was history. It began as an invitation and a chance to consider taking over the Tell His Story linkup. Jennifer Dukes Lee left a very kind message asking me to prayerfully consider becoming the next host of her amazing linkup and community. If you’re here now, you know how I answered.
Several months ago I sent a message to Jeanne Takenaka with a big ask and a heart full of hope. I’m not sure how Jeanne felt when that message pinged into her inbox, but she said “Yes.”
The last six months and maybe even longer I knew that I needed to make a change. I’m not always a big fan of change so I slowly began to erase it from my thoughts until I couldn’t see it anymore. God was calling me to pass on the Tell His Story torch and He wouldn’t let it go until it was done.
This transition is bittersweet and next Tuesday I will wake up wondering what’s missing from my day. But I know that handing the reins to Jeanne is exactly what God wanted. Jeanne and I know each other from the Five Minute Friday community and had the pleasure of meeting each other in person at a Five Minute Friday retreat in Kansas City a few years ago. We have a lot in common and many times God is laying similar ideas on our hearts and we find we both have written on similar themes. You will find Jeanne HERE.
Ideas to Transition Well
It’s easy to transition well during change when you make the choice on your own or maybe not. You may believe that my examples of transitioning don’t come anywhere close to what you have experienced in your life and you may be right. Let’s put that aside and take a few minutes to brainstorm how we can walk into a new season with less tension, less anxiety, less push back, and more acceptance.
Pray. God knows what is on our hearts even before we utter the first word. Saying the words out loud proclaims an urgency and trust that God will answer.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:12-13
Permanence and change go hand in hand. I shared a quote on Instagram and it says, “October is a symphony of permanence and change.” I believe that when we think of change there is a both/and happening during the transition. We long for steadiness but find instead a path that leads us through change. Permanence and change go together when God is orchestrating the symphony.
Flexibility creates a better pathway to change. A friend, Cindy Lafavre Yorks, wrote on Instagram: “I find that I’m more open to change, the better I’m able to tackle what challenges.” Find her HERE.
God is always with us through the transitions of life. One of my favorite verses is Deuteronomy 31:8. “It says, The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Unwelcome change takes what was and moves it into what will be. Call upon God in challenging seasons. He will hear and answer.
What I Want You To Know
Hosting Tell His Story has been an amazing honor. Creating a space for writers to gather in community is always the right thing to do. Hearing and reading your stories each week allowed me to grow as a writer and to fall deeper in love with the Lord.
I’m not going anywhere. I love seeing your faces around here and love reading your words. I pray the friendship we have built continues.
Life transitions are the pivots that move us from one season of life to another. Let's learn together how to transition well during change and join me for an announcement. #TellHisStory #linkup Share on XTake a few minutes right now to welcome Jeanne and head over to her place to see where you will linkup next week. Thank you for being here and I look forward to many more meetings as we stay together in community through our words.
Blessings on your week!
**The first photo was taken by my son, Nicholas. 🙂
Thank you for your faithfulness in hosting us, Mary. I’ll miss seeing your smiling face at Tell His Story. I’ve learned much from you. Jeanne will do a fantastic job too, I’m sure of that.
The good news is that I will still be around. Jeanne is the perfect choice for the next host of Tell His Story. Thank you for letting me know you learned from me. That means so much.
Mary,
Thank you for hosting Tell His Story. It has been an amazing place to visit. I am glad to hear you will not be going anywhere.
I am praying for you as you make this change. May God bless you as you have blessed all of us.
Maree
Thank you, Maree! You are so kind. I know you have created a wonderful community with your Grace and Truth linkup. Thank you for your prayers. I receive them and all God is going to do.
Aw, Mary … you have been such a warm and welcoming hostess of #TellHisStory. I will miss you at the linkup, but I am delighted to learn that Jeanne is taking your place. 🙂 Change is a challenge for me, though less so than it used to be. I so appreciate your ideas for transitioning well, including your mention of Deut.31:8 (also one of my favorite verses). Hugs, friend.
You are such a treasured writing friend. I love that even though I am not hosting the linkup, you are only a website away and I can visit anytime. I don’t think I know anyone who likes change. You are in good company. Looking forward to seeing you over at your place.
I was not part of Tell His Story before you hosted it…but I know that it has been a blessing and encouragement to me since I found it! Thank you for your faithfulness. I look forward to the community continuing…and glad that you “are not going anywhere”! God’s blessings to you!
I love that you became part of the community when I began hosting. Seeing you each week is like having an old friend around for coffee and conversation. Blessings to you, too.
Thank you for graciously hosting and listening to God’s leading.
You’re welcome. It was my pleasure and honor.
Hello Jeanne. Mary couldn’t have asked a more faithful writer and woman. See you next week!
You are too kind. I’ll see you around the blogosphere, Susan!
There is a quote attributed to Mr. Rogers that says when things are going wrong to look for the helpers. I have found that when I am facing changes that are not of my own choice or that I may not be ready for I look for God. He is constant and steadfast and his love never changes.
I have heard that quote before. Looking for God while going through change is the best thing we can do. Thank you for that reminder.
Thank you Mary for your faithfulness & kindness in hosting our community each week.
I pray you have a blessed time in continuing to write & blog.
I resist change, I’ve had too many serious circumstances I just didn’t see coming, right out of left field.
But some changes are a blessing…
Bless you,
Jennifer
It has been my honor to lead this community of writers. You have been a faithful member of Tell His Story. I agree that sudden changes are hard to manage. I pray you continue to linkup with Jeanne.
I love you both!
xo xo
And I adore you. Praying that you are hanging in there.
Dear Mary,
Thank you for being such a gracious hostess here! You have been such an encouragement to all of us, and I pray that the Lord brings that encouragement to you now as you move forward with Him. I am so reluctant for those changes to happen also. But the Lord has recently been showing me how often He has already been preparing me for that change, and I just didn’t have my eyes open to see it. I’m so grateful that He does help us to open our hearts to Him!
God makes change easier if we let Him. I’m the person who wants to push back. You are right that God prepares the way for change but we don’t always recognize it. We will still “see” each other and I’m looking forward to that.
Mary, I’ve found that once I accept a change as coming from the Lord and obey His leading He opens my eyes to receive the blessing in the change. Blessings to you and Jeanne!
Acceptance is important when we are going through change. Thank you for that reminder.
You have carried the torch so well, friend! Excited to see what God has in store for you and for Jeanne!
You are so kind. It was a wonderful torch to carry and now Jeanne will carry it forward.
Mary, such a powerful post on transitions and change. You have done a wonderful job with this site and link-up! I’m only sorry I didn’t find you sooner. And I know Jeanne from online groups and love her writings as well. Both your “yes” to the Lord and hers no doubt blesses the hearts of readers. We’ll miss you!
Thank you,Karen! It’s nice to know you have a new place to go and link up. Transitions are not always easy but blessed when we let God lead us through them.
Mary,
You’ve been a terrific host of Tell His Story! Like you, I like my rut of familiarity, but God calls us to change so that we will learn to utterly rely and depend upon Him (that’s one thing of which I’m certain). So tickled to hear that Jeanne will be taking over the reins and carrying on this convergence of writers. Welcome Jeanne- you’ll be awesome. Thanks for all your time and hard work, Mary. May you both be blessed in this season of change.
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you, Bev for these kind words. Pushing back against change is a waste of time because God will see it through. Jeanne is the perfect choice and I know she will do an amazing job.
Mary, I have so enjoyed joining you here each week. Change doesn’t come easily to me either yet, when God moves us, it is always for our good. May God bless you in the days ahead as He continues to unfold His plans in your life!
I’m glad I’m not alone. Change is good even when it doesn’t look like it at first. I will be visiting you to see what you are up to at your place.
Wow! How exciting for both of you 😍. Change is never easy, but it’s always necessary—and it’s best when navigated with Jesus at the helm!
You are right in saying that change is never easy. We grow when we walk through change and it is time for me.
Has it really been 2 1/2 years???
I will sure miss “Tuesdays with Mary,” and I appreciate all your efforts here.
Jeanne, it’s nice to know the party is moving to a friendly locale!
It goes by so fast. I will miss knowing that I will always see “my writing friends.” However, you are just a hop, skip, and jump away.
“God is orchestrating the symphony.” I do love that metaphor. He is orchestrates our life, and it may seem out of tune to us, yet it is creating a lovely melody when we really listen to all the pieces, not just our small section. I’m glad you will still be here sharing, Mary! There is a season for everything. I’m in the in-between of change, I think. It’s like that leave losing it’s pigment in the fall season, but not yet time to fall off onto new ground.
So you are “there” but not quite yet. I get that. It is reassuring to know that people like you are still around even if I don’t host a linkup.
Thank you for hosting Tell His Story so well for so long, Mary. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
It was my honor and privilege to hang out with such a beautiful community of writers.
Mary, what a beautiful post. Change is not something I ask for. But, I’ve discovered that God always has a purpose in my life when He brings change. I loved this perspective: “Unwelcome change takes what was and moves it into what will be.”
It’s so true. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and your lovely photos!
This time change is welcome as I open my arms for you to enter Tell His Story and become its next host. You will do an amazing job, my friend!