Christian Latina Leadership Blog

By: Verónica Martínez-Gallegos

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Transitions are significant changes or events that move you from your comfort zone to a place where you must begin anew in unfamiliar territory. Life presents us with moments when, in order to move forward, we must leave behind what we know, for example: a meaningful relationship, work and colleagues, a special place and friendships, even a church and beloved brothers and sisters.

It is not easy, and not everyone experiences it. I’ve met people who were born in a place and never left their city, or who have worked their entire lives in one job.

One state is not better than the other. Staying in one place for a lifetime brings stability, and some people prefer that. Moving from one place to another has its benefits, such as starting over, meeting different people, and shedding accumulated belongings. However, transitions, no matter how positive, are always accompanied by grief for the loss of what is left behind.

I am sharing this topic because transitions have been a part of my life. I have experienced them on more than one occasion. The most recent transition was when my husband and I were moving from North Carolina, where we lived for almost 30 years, with the exception of two years when we were away. During these 30 years, we also served in several meaningful ministries.

In every change we have experienced, the most important thing is knowing how to listen to God and understand God’s will. Looking back on all the times we have had to enter a period of transition; I can safely say that God was guiding us.

For me, listening to God means being intentional in my communication through prayer. Prayer, for me, is speaking directly and sincerely to God about my desires, doubts, fears, afflictions, disagreements, and frustrations. I have practiced writing my prayers in a journal for many years. The most important conversations with God in my life are recorded there. From time to time, I read through some of my past journals and rejoice in remembering everything I have lived, and how I have experienced God in my life.

The Bible speaks much about transitions. For example, the people of Israel experienced what it was like to live in transition. For forty years, the Lord led them all the way through the wilderness. Another example is Elisha, who had to go through stages of transition where God guided him from one place to another (1 Kings 17:1-9).

Furthermore, the Bible helps us understand transitions. Proverbs 16:9 states, The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps (NRSVUE). According to this verse, our lives do not belong to us; they belong to the Lord, and only God will establish our paths.

You may wonder how to know God’s will. Something very meaningful to me is experiencing God’s peace. Isaiah 26:3 has been an important passage in my life: You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT).

Feeling God’s peace is of utmost importance to me because transitions can become wilderness. However, God has a purpose in everything that happens. God wants us to be transformed in the process of change, so that we are not the same people before and after a transition.

When we hear someone say that God is leading them to go somewhere else, it often seems difficult to explain and perhaps even to understand, both for the person themselves and for those around them. When this happens, it is because God has already been working long before in the person’s life and in the upcoming place. God often uses situations to make us uncomfortable and help us visualize beyond our comfort zone.

The truth for me is that God has never moved me from one place to another without having better plans (Jeremiah 29:11). God has planned the exit and the entry, and everything has flowed without a hitch. For me, that is what gives me peace—knowing that things are not forced and that God opens a path in an amazing way. These are the events and details that we know only God can accomplish.

Perhaps you are going through a transition and you need to make a decision. My questions would be: Have you prayed about it? How has God spoken to you through God’s Word? What has God said to you? Do you have peace in making the decision to move? Knowing that God is with you will give you the peace to move forward.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you (Isaiah 43:2).