What’s Next?
Life is a journey and like any journey we are often anticipating what may be next. Maybe you’re thinking about what you will do after you have completed your education. Maybe you’re contemplating a major career change. Maybe you’re anticipating or experiencing a change in your current family structure. One thing I have learned about the human experience is that no matter where we are, we are always thinking about what is next. So how do you prepare for what is next?
The first thing me must acknowledge is that “what’s next” is transition and a transition means change and change, even the good, can be stressful. Stress is almost a certainty and because of that we must determine how we are going to deal with it. Here are some suggestions I have for managing the stress of transition:
Allow yourself to feel all the emotions. Often when we encounter stress from transitional situations, we will bottle up the feelings we have so that we can “make it through”. This is often the worse thing we can do because it often results an explosion of feelings that are shared inappropriately. Instead cry if you need to cry. Crying helps to “act as a kind of transition point between feeling upset or sad and feeling better and more positive.” So if you are feeling stressed over what life has thrown at you, sit down and have a good cry.
Remember its only temporary. The moment we are in feels like an eternity, but remember all things will pass. Looks back on previous experiences to remind you of that.
Lean on others. One of the greatest things to remember about the Christian experience is that we are not meant to go it alone. Ecclesiastes 4:10-12 says, “If either should fall, one can pick up the other. But how miserable are those who fall and don’t have a companion to help them up! Also, if two lie down together, they can stay warm. But how can anyone stay warm alone? Also, one can be overpowered, but two together can put up resistance. A three-ply cord doesn’t easily snap.”
Embrace the change. Change is often uncomfortable. The comfort of our past seems like a great place to retreat to, but that may not be possible. Do your best to embrace the new space you are in and discover the new opportunities afforded to you.
This Sunday we will be blessing the students and faculty returning to our schools in the next few weeks. Many of them are asking “what’s next”. Lets join together in worship as we pray for and celebrate the new opportunities of the coming year. We will also continue this discussion at 8:30 and 10:45 AM about how we can “Get Ready for What’s Next”.
In God’s grip,
Pastor Chuck Church
