Finding Stability in Transition

November 14, 2017  - By Gretchen Saffles

How to Find Stability When Life Seems Unstable | by Well-Watered Women

Deep breath in, deep breath out.

I keep reminding myself of this as I glance around at our deconstructed home. Boxes are currently surrounding me and my house looks as if a tornado hurled through it. These are the marks of transition. Chaos. Disorder. And new beginnings that can only come with an ending.

In just five short days my husband, little boy, and I will load a moving van and journey east towards Atlanta as we embark on a new adventure! After serving for five years at our local church, the Lord has called us to take a step of faith and walk into a new season of life. My precious husband has taken on a new position at the Winshape Foundation, specifically Winshape Camps, and we couldn't be more excited! Our gaze is straightforward and our hearts are expectant as we move forward on this adventure God has been taking us on.

As we've began walking through this very brief and intense season of transition, the Lord has been opening my eyes to several aspects of His character; specifically, His stability when our world is unstable. I'm a creature of comfort. I thrive in a clean, put together home. I sleep better at night when the kitchen counters are wiped down and the laundry is folded. And yet, I've learned that those comforts in life are as fleeting as a spring flower that is here one day and gone tomorrow. This world will never offer the lasting comfort we long for.

Don't Put Your Feelings Before the Unchanging Word of God

surrendering control

Packing up our house has been a soul-scrubbing act of surrender. Each day I wake up to a long to-do list that needs to be done and a choice to make: Will I be consumed with worry and overwhelmed by my to-do list? Or will I be consumed by God's grace and overwhelmed by His faithfulness? It's a daily, moment-by-moment choice to choose surrender and trust, and yet it is always worth it. When the world is unstable, chaotic, and "out of our control", we can trust in God's steady, consistent, never-ending grace. He is our stability during times of transition.

And so, I can feel the tension in my soul: to worry or worship, to breathe deep breaths of trust or sigh breaths of stress.

It's only God's grace when we choose what is good and right and lean into His strength. Because ultimately, if the entire world crumbled in an instant, His Word would still stand, and His Word would still hold our hearts together in one piece. That is a fact we can cling to, always.

The greatest encouragement I want to offer you, my friend who is walking through a season of transition, is this: Don't neglect reading your Bible just because your home is torn apart or your to-do list is long. Don't put your feelings before the facts of God's unfailing, unchanging Word. It is your lifeline, it is your stability, it is your comfort. No matter where you live, no matter how messy your home becomes, and no matter how you feel each morning—His Word will not disappoint or fail you. Your life may look different than you expected, and your worldly comforts may be gone for a season, but His Word will sustain you and give you exactly what you need each day.

Jesus Christ is your Stability in seasons of transition. Keep Him first, for He will not let your world crumble, nor will He allow these packing boxes to overwhelm you. As a matter of fact, He will give you more than you could ever hope for: peace.

your sister in transition,
Gretchen

 Photo of our family by Allison Naylor Photography! Photo of our family by Allison Naylor Photography.

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  1. MEREDITH says:

    I’m so excited for you, friend!! Love hearing about what’s upcoming for the Saffleses! My brother is in Atlanta and I was just there visiting him in early October- such a fun city! Next time I’m there I’ll holler at you! 🙂

  2. goddards2mex@yahoo.com says:

    Happy for you! Sorry I never got to meet you while you were here in Knoxville. I can totally relate to this post, we moved a little over a month ago. We’re still trying to get settled. Just since we moved here my oldest son and his wife moved and my second son left for Army basic training. It has been a whirlwind but my time with Jesus has been so precious to me. I can definitely see a difference in the move this time and previous moves. There’s been more of a peace and calm in the midst of the chaos, even with 5 more children still at home. God is so good and faithful. He’s taught me so much and I love him so! Thank you for all that you do to minister and share. You’ve helped me grow. God bless you!! Safe and peaceful travels.

  3. evermore_babe@hotmail.com says:

    After a long season of happy and not so happy things happening i am in the middle of transition. Moving with no real certainty in sight I have felt that this year 2018 is about change, trust and identity and for someone who thrives in order and organisation transition is hard. The ground feels like it moving, while we move house, nothing feels certain. But your words spoke truth to me on basing my trust in gods unfailing, unchanging word, above my feelings that change more than the seasons.

    Thank you, this article gave me a needed reminder of gods faithfulness in every season, especially when you are in transition and it feels like you aren’t in a season at all.

    x

  4. Jill Jorgensen says:

    Thank you for this. I am transitioning from 6 years in Bolivia as a missionary to life back in the States… I relate with so many things you said. Thank you for the powerful truths you shared.

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