Dear Beloved,

As I talked with friends, family and colleagues over the last couple of weeks, a common topic has been a change in stages of their lives, or more accurately a transition from one season of life to another. Newly-married couples talked about moving in and living in the same space together. Some couples talked about becoming new parents, others talked about kids going from elementary to middle school, or becoming “empty nesters”. Still others were contemplating questions about careers: should I take a new job, or move to another city, the post-Covid considerations of the flexibility to work from home, and many more.

 
Like most people, we likely find ourselves similarly caught up in a season of change and transition. One thing that’s sure is that “change is always inevitable”; no one is immune to seasons of change. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under the heaven:” (ESV). The question that I ask myself in the midst of it all is always, how do I handle the changes?
 
While considering the many questions of managing change in our lives, I couldn’t help but think about Peter and John being arrested in Acts 4. If you read this portion of scripture, you notice they had only recently started a new season of ministry without Jesus being physically present with them (remember though, they had the Holy Spirit). A forty-plus year old man had just been healed, and in response Paul and John were arrested by the authorities and prohibited from preaching in Jesus’ name. After they were released, Paul and John went to who and what they were familiar with - their own company.
 
Acts 4:23-31 indicates that instead of wallowing in self-pity, fear or hand-wringing, they made a short report of their experience to their friends, who believed as they did. They then spoke God’s word together in prayer to Him. I have found that during different stages and new seasons in life, the unfamiliar might occur, or different challenges might come up. However, one thing that’s never changed is the faithfulness of God to us and to His word. “Blessed be the man that trusts in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.” ( Jeremiah 17:7; Douala-Rheims Bible).
 
Now notice what that confidence and trust produced in the apostles in Acts 4. Not only did the place they were in get shaken, but Acts 4:33 says “ And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them” (Amplified).
 
In other words, their confidence in God, displayed by the words they spoke in prayer, not only produced in them a boldness (strength, ability and power) necessary to navigate the new seasons in their lives, but they also experienced the favor and goodwill needed for the new season. They received grace and strength to do what had previously seemed daunting or impossible. And as a result they were able to carry on the ministry of Jesus in a new season, without Jesus’ physical presence, and in the face of strong opposition from the authorities.
 
I'm practicing this in my own life, as a parent with a child moving into a new stage in their academic development, and a minister moving into the next stage of what God had asked us to do (start a local church). I speak with friends who believe God’s word as I do, I speak His word to Him in prayer and now I’m moving forward through this transition to a new season with GREAT GRACE to see me through, and CONFIDENCE in my Lord. Guess what? You need to do the same for yourself. Speak God’s word to yourself, and in the place of prayer, and you will experience His great grace, strength, and ability as you transition through to a new stage or new season in your life.
In Him,