Last week I had the opportunity to speak with a great group of folks about effectively navigating the transitions of life.  It seems that many of us are going through a transition in some part of our life.  It’s helpful for us to see how Jesus prepared His disciples for transition.  John 17:11 reveals several principles that can help you effectively navigate life’s transitions:

"I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.”

Jesus teaches that when you are going through a time of transition you must realize it will be challenging.  Notice that He says to His disciples they are staying in the world.  Earlier that evening Jesus had told His disciples, "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” (John 15:19).  Jesus does not soft pedal the truth, He was sending them into a world that would be hostile toward them.  This is an example of the law of expectation – if I told a task was easy but it was difficult how would you feel?  Conversely if I told you a task was difficult but it was not as bad as you expected how would you feel?  We want justice and fairness in a world that is not just or fair.  When we realize the world is not fair we can deal with it because we don’t have unrealistic expectations.

I love the words of Phillips Brooks, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.”

Next, when going through a time of transition you must remember that God is keeping you.  During times of transition you may feel lonely and lose heart.  Jesus says, "While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them . . . “ (John 17:12).  Just as Jesus was keeping His disciples He is keeping you for He has promised He will never leave you nor forsake you!

Finally, when going through a time of transition you must recognize God’s mission for your life.  What is that mission?  Jesus says that they may be one.  Why should we be one?  We should be one so that we may be united in purpose while realizing that unity does not imply uniformity.  We are to demonstrate oneness to the world –  just as God sent Jesus into the world He has sent us into the world (John 17:18).

If you are not currently going through a time of transition you will – are you ready to face the transitions of life?  As Heraclitus said, “Nothing endures like change.”  May God guide you as you navigate the transitions of life.