The Best Way to Begin a New Chapter

Focusing on the promise of God’s work in our lives allows us to savor the sweetness of the past, experience the beauty of the present, and anticipate the adventure of the future. 

Trust God: savor the sweetness of the past, experience the present beauty, anticipate the future adventure. Click To Tweet

Hard Change

A bit over a month ago, my boy graduated from college! My firstborn. Earlier this month, he began his first job in the “real” world.

Crazy, I know! And that ends a chapter in Danny’s life and in the lives of his parents and begins a new one.

I don’t know about you but I struggle a bit with my children growing up. And graduating to that first real-world job is the final nail in the coffin of childhood.

This is a BIG change! I’ve used this month to begin processing and adjusting. 

This new chapter means my boy-turned man will no longer have weeks to hang at home over Christmas break. He’ll no longer have “summer” jobs or fall and spring breaks.

This chapter contains many endings, and in the same pages, many beginnings. It’s filled with challenges, yet also opportunities.

That’s the way with all changes. Something ends, but something else begins; some of it will be easy to handle, some of it, far more difficult. 

How we enter a chapter of these big changes sets the scene for the remainder of the story. 

My gut, mama instinct in the immediate aftermath of his college graduation is one of pride yet also sorrow, grieving the loss of my little boy. Holding onto and reliving what was. 

Yet when we remain focused on what was, we miss what is and what is to come.

Beautiful Process of Change

Holding onto the sweetness of the past, blinds us to the beauty of the present and the promise of the future.

Holding onto the sweetness of the past, blinds us to the beauty of the present and the promise of the future. Click To Tweet  

As I look forward to the hand of God in my son’s life, I see a story of challenges and opportunities.

I see chapters filled with the tension of quiet waiting and deep contemplation and others packed with heart-stopping adventure.

I see scenes of sorrow but also scenes of great joy. 

I see grace and mercy at work delivering constant hope in the struggle of living in a temporal and broken world. 

This beautiful process of change brings growth and refinement.

With Christ at the helm, change makes blind eyes see (John 9:39).

It softens hearts of stone (Ezekiel 36:26).

It transforms a shackled soul to one liberated (Galatians 5:1)! 

Embracing the Freedom in Each New Chapter

Freedom in Christ is real. Each new chapter in our lives begins saturated with its promise.

Each new chapter in our lives begins saturated with the promise of freedom in Christ. Click To Tweet

Those big and little changes we hesitate to embrace move us out of our own way so we experience that freedom. 

So despite the things I will miss about having my children at home and under my wing, I’m making the choice to trust.

I’m trusting that in the hands of a faithful God, change is beneficial. I’m trusting God is writing a good story for each of us. 

In the hands of a faithful God, change is beneficial, a necessary part of the good story He is writing for you. Click To Tweet

I’m choosing to turn my eyes from the past to the present. I’m choosing to turn my lamentations to rejoicing as I celebrate the beauty of what change brings in my life and in the life of our children. 

I’m walking the path laid out believing God has the best plan … and it always involves change! 

“For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. ¹⁸ So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Reflections: Through what big change are you trusting God? 

Going on 5 years of counting and I’m nearing 5,000 gifts in Ann Voskamp’s Joy Dare! What a blessing! Here are numbers #5105–5125. Read my entire list by clicking here.

By His grace ≈

Julie