S6 E2: Transitions + Trust Pt 2
So I can’t seem to get away from this theme around transitions. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in the middle of one, maybe it’s because seasonally we’re in the middle of one...Not sure but here we are.
I’ve told ya’ll before I love change. But I’ve realized as much as I love change I don’t love transitions…
Meaning that time in between!
I talked about that in the last episode ...that space between “what’s next BUT not yet”
And maybe I can’t get away from it because I feel like so many of you are in a transition as well. Transitions are a normal part of life but I think we can all agree that the past few years have brought a whole new level to our lives around this topic.
When I really look at what brings up the struggle for me that maybe some of you can relate to is something I mentioned in the previous episode...control. We don’t like to feel out of control..I DON’T LIKE TO FEEL OUT OF CONTROL!! But why is that?!?
I believe like most things it goes back to fear…
Fear of the unknown….
Fear in the uncertainty of the future…
Fear of what others might be thinking…
Fear that God is extra busy right now with everything that is going on in the world so you have slipped off his radar haha...
Fear that the season is never going to end...
In the last year and the last couple of months, I’ve gained 2 new beautiful granddaughters. And I’ve been reminded watching these new little lives in the first days and weeks and months of life, the need of being held and not only held but held tight.
They even make special swaddling blankets that my youngest granddaughter got to model for a company in her first few weeks of life haha.
But you’ve probably seen why swaddling works...because when you lay them down it’s like their little bodies can’t control their movements...and they are startled by the freedom…
I don’t know about you but I have felt that same exact way at times in my adult life. Like everything about me is frantically flailing around and I need the presence of God to wrap me up and hold me tight and calm me down.
And here’s the beautiful thing friend...he’s ALWAYS available to do that for us. It’s that control thing that keeps us from going to him right from the start for peace and comfort.
This brings us to the trust thing again. Are we really trusting that God is for us and with us? Do we trust that even in the midst of any uncertainty or frustrations that he wants to be our peace? Are we confident that he can be trusted to direct our paths when we surrender control??
Scripture talks about coming to God as a child. More specifically us coming to him with child-like faith. Looking to him as the loving Father that he is.
I typically start my prayers with saying Father and acknowledge the role and posture in which I am coming from...and I remember at one point really thinking about how i actually look to God as my Father.
Because for all of us we come to view God as Father with some baggage. Some of that is positive and makes it easy to view our relationship with God and for some this view of a relationship with God ‘as Father’ brings up all kinds of things for us.
And here’s why I want us to stop and focus on this today because just like any relationship here on earth. We slip into roles and can tend to live on autopilot. Living and communicating out of habit and repeating and continuing certain behaviors and thoughts patterns that might not be the most life-giving to ourselves and the other person. But it takes effort and intentionality to stop and pay attention and have conversations and make changes for the relationship to thrive and be what it is intended to be.
And let me say you might be listening and thinking “I had a great Dad so it’s easy for me to view God in this role”...even then for different reasons in the relationship within your family and relationship with your Dad you automatically come to God even if unconsciously with certain ways of relating and expectations.
For example, no matter if you didn’t have a loving, supportive, and dependable father your whole life, I’m pretty sure you’ll still be able to relate to this example I want to share because, for all of us, when you are a young child we are so very dependant on a parent and caregiver.
So we ALL can relate to that feeling…
So think back about you being a small child and being in the car with your Father. And you're going on a trip. Or it could be a simple trip to the grocery store...the point is you’re going somewhere...you have a destination.
So you’re in the car...how do you feel?
Pretty sure as a child we weren’t concerned with the questions of “do we have everything we need for the trip” Is the car in good condition? Do we have enough gas? Had an oil change lately?
Nope as a kid...we pretty much hop in our seat oblivious to all of the details that have been and will be taken care of.
So we proceed on the trip….
As a child are you questioning the route your Father is taking you?
Are you asking and questioning why he just took that turn or detour?
Pretty sure you aren’t…
Because as a child we have this total dependence and trust that our Father knows what he is doing!
So this is what I was evaluating and looking at in my own life and inviting you to do the same ….
Because if we are really looking to God as our father. There’s a level of trust and dependency that we need to continually be living in.
As we are living and moving through our life just like the car analogy and I’m depending on and trusting that God my father has a plan for my life and if I will stay in the car I can trust him to get me there!?!
Or am I questioning why I’m on this particular road and asking why we came this way instead of another way and complaining about how long it’s taking and that I’m hot and hungry and ready to be there haha
Sound familiar?
I want to be confident and comfortable knowing that I can fully trust my Father to get me where I’m supposed to be.
Love these words of Jesus from Matthew 6
“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing?
26 “Consider the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they? 27 So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life?
28 “And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, 29 and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty like one of these! 30 So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—you of little faith?
31 “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require?
33 “So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. 34 Refuse to worry about tomorrow but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
*Can I remind you today that you have a Father that desires for you to come to him as HIS child with all of your doubts and fears and insecurities
Before we go I have a couple of questions for you:
#1 - How are you viewing God as your Father?
#2 - In what ways are you may be responding to him out of habit or expectations from the relationship you have or had with your earthly father?
#3 - Are you fully trusting God as your Father with any transitions you might find yourself in right now?
Let’s pray…
Father, help us to fully be present for the most unconditional loving relationship we were designed to experience.
Father your love and grace in our lives is healing...it’s empowering...it’s life-changing!
We receive it in Jesus’ name
Amen
