By Martha Bush

While attending a home Bible study years ago, the visiting speaker finished speaking and turned to me and said, “The changes and transitions you're going through, God says you're going to make it.”

Did I ever need to hear that! I was in the middle of a major transition. Though I had confirmation God had called me to embark on a new path, sometimes I felt like screaming, "Let me off this roller coaster ride!"

Recently, I read through my journals during this time period. I saw stages I went through and what I learned that were life-changing. It's my prayer sharing these stages will help others who are making changes and transitions in their lives.  

Can I Trust My Heart?

“Is that You, God? It's not You I don’t trust; it’s myself I don’t trust!” Up to that point, I hadn’t branched out beyond reading the Word, praying a little, and taking a covered dish to church when needed. Obviously, I didn’t have much depth, so hearing God's voice was new to me.

The turning point came from an Old Testament scripture: “Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us to we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”  (Deuteronomy 30:11-14 NIV)

This clearly showed me that just as we know the voice of our earthly father, God gives us a heart to know His voice. I also sought Godly counseling for confirmation.

FEAR

Like Abraham, I started my journey in faith, not knowing where I was going. Leaving the known and stepping into the unknown is almost always accompanied by fear. Fear is when all the “what if’s” work overtime. The old devil uses these “what ifs” to trigger our emotions.

I shall never forget the scripture that gave me a reason to continue:  Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)

Kingdom work should always come first; not the “what if’s" of the old devil.

Opposition

This stage totally surprised me, particularly where the opposition was coming from. 

“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in –law, Your enemies will be right in your own household!”  (Matthew 10:34-36 NLT)  

Say what? My own household? I must have dozed off to sleep when I read that scripture in times past; I had no memory of it. Let's just say I found out I couldn't be a servant of Jesus Christ and please all members of my household at the same time. (Galatians 1:10) 

Sit Still, Rahab

It was hard watching family and finances being shaken. What’s more, I couldn’t do anything to fix it.

God used Joshua’s words to Rahab to sustain me. Joshua told her when she saw the Israelites coming into Jericho, gather her family, sit in the widow holding a scarlet ribbon indicating where she was, and he would rescue her and her family. BUT, if you go out into the streets to save yourself, your blood will not be on our hands. (Joshua 6 Paraphrased)

It was then I got a visual picture of Rahab sitting still up in her window as the walls of Jericho came tumbling down around her, waiting for Joshua to rescue them. 

And so, I perched myself up in my imaginary window, waiting as Rahab did. 

Tired of Waiting

With all due respects to Rahab, her waiting period was a lot shorter than mine - 6 days as compared to mine that stretched into years. I had had a prophetic word saying: “I'm bringing this all to some kind of conclusion and you're going to be pleased.” "When Lord, when?" was my cry.

Growing tired, there came a time I prayed weeks for God to give me permission to leave the journey. Finally He answered me by saying,

“Who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

(Esther 4:14 NIV)

“Okay, Lord. I am in it for the long haul.”

  ***** 

My friends, you might be going through changes and transitions in your life and feel you're not going to make it. I'd be glad to pray with you.

Next week, Balaam’s donkey, Jehoshaphat, and other "unknowns" tell their story of coming into a royal position for such a time as this.