Transition: Some Things I've Learned
Life is full of changes and transitions.
Many are similar for most of us: we start kindergarten, we go to college, we get married, we have kids, then grandkids. We share these milestones. Some are wonderful and amazing; others can be painful and devastating.
God has things to teach us, work to do in each of us, through every one of the life changes.
I’m in the midst of a major transition right now. For the past 19 years I have partnered with my husband, Steve, as he served as President, to lead the staff of Cru/Campus Crusade for Christ. It has been wonderful and exhausting, rewarding and challenging. But mostly it has been exceedingly joyful to seek to love and encourage and advocate for our staff.
But now that has changed. As of October 1, we have stepped aside, gladly giving our responsibilities to Steve and Christy Sellers. We seek to encourage and serve and pray for them.
It seems like just the right time to step back and say to God, eventually, what is next? but first, what should I have learned in these years, in my 50 plus years with Cru? What have You been working into my life? Where have I grown? And still need to grow?
So I asked the Lord to remind me of the major lessons, the significant truths, to guide me in the future and to pass on to others. Here are 10 truths that God has imprinted on my mind, my heart, my soul, even as I still have so far to go.
The Holy Spirit is the secret of the Christian life.
Don’t miss this one. Jesus said it was good for him to go, so He could send the Spirit. To live in us. Encourage us. Comfort us. Teach us. Pray for us. Give us wisdom in our words and works. Transform our minds. Conform us to Jesus. Empower us. And more… Read more…
The work of God is done on our knees.
Of course we pray. We ask. We beseech. We cry out. We lament. We ask for help to do what He has given us to do. We learn to be honest with God. We receive yes or no responses, or mostly “I have a better idea.” We discover that the work in us and through us happens as we bow before Him. Read more…
Discover who God has made you and what He has prepared for you to do—and do it.
He was there, when each of was being formed in our mother’s womb, making us in every way a work of art, a masterpiece, perfectly formed for the good works He has prepared for us to do. Read more…
Be a good steward of every area of your life.
Entrusted. He has entrusted so much to us. We are quick to say our time, talent and treasures. True—God has entrusted those, and asks us to be good stewards. And of so much more: our families, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, our citizenship. And most of all, we are entrusted with His image. How will we steward that? Read more…
Always seek to encourage—everyone.
In these pandemic days almost everyone needs encouragement—a listening ear, a positive word, a smile (at least your eyes can smile), a little help. But that is to be our way of life—to be the conduits of God’s love, mercy and grace. And when we encourage, we are putting courage into the person before us. Read more…
Remember that God is always working.
Sometimes I wonder where God is. Of course, there are many tragedies and fires and hurricanes and genocides and wars for him to tend to. But sometimes I have a desperate need for Him to step in and heal or rescue or intervene. And He doesn’t, that I can see. But I have learned, He is always working, even if I can’t see it. Read more…
Live and give grace.
When we were in the midst of our prodigal wilderness, and our wanderer made many bad choices, and we didn’t know how to change things, God said clearly to me: When you make mistakes with this boy (and you will, and I did), make them on the side of grace. And that made all the difference. Read more…
Bless abundantly.
To bless is to project goodness in the life of someone, to ask God to do good to them. Oh, how we need God to do good in and for us, and so does every other person. There is power in blessing. It can be life changing. Read more…
Give thanks in everything.
Is that possible? Yes, since He told us to do it. Not for everything. In everything. When I say “Thank You, Lord,” my focus changes, my trust increases, my hope expands. If I keep practicing, it becomes my natural response. Read more…
Never leave your first love for God.
Our Lord has said we should love God with our all hearts and minds and souls. With everything we are. But oh how easy it is to “love” something more—a person, a spouse, a child, a place, a possession, a job, a vision, a passion. Even our service for God. When we find something higher in our affections than our Lord, we must ask God to enable us to remove it and put Him back in His rightful place, to fall so much more in love with Him. Read more…
I hope at least one of these struck a chord with you. You can read more about these and others in my book Shaped by God: Words for Life.
What about you? What is a life lesson you have learned?
C2020 Judy Douglass