“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT)
A triathlon competition requires participants to first swim, then bike, and then run certain distances. Getting through each of these stages requires training and grit. The transition phase between swimming and biking can be tricky for many new triathletes. They have to remove their wetsuits, find their bikes, etc. while they are disoriented after the swim. While many of these athletes have trained to swim, bike, and run--very few seem prepared for the transitions.
Transitions between life stages can also be disorienting. From childhood to adolescence, to independent adulthood, to assisted living as you age; from single, to married, to divorced, or widowed; from college, to job, to unemployed, or retired; from parent, to empty-nester, to grandparent; from inherited faith, to skepticism, to intimacy with God--life is marked by transitions. While many of us expect and prepare for the different stages of life, we don’t seem to know how to handle the transitions. We get stuck.
The same God who has promised to be with us when we go through difficulties and oppression, will also be there as we pass through transitions. Keep your focus on following the Lord--not on what you have left behind or what is yet to come; not on your exhaustion or your fear; not on grief, loss, uncertainty, or insecurity. All of these things will bog you down, sapping your strength and resolve to move forward. Instead, continue to trust the Lord. Stay close. Imitate His movements. Listen carefully to His directions. The race is not over. Keep moving. Pass through.
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