Meaningful Work in Seasons of Transitionનમૂનો

Prayer – Take 30 seconds of silence and stillness. Then, express your desire for God to reveal Himself to you.

Devotional - The Meaningful Work of Confiding

Luke chapter one is an endearing narrative of two women who had miraculous births. One “was well along in years.” (Luke 1:18) The other was a virgin. (Luke 1:34) Elizabeth had the gracious surprise of carrying a son many years after she thought it was possible. Mary received the blessing well before she thought she would. They were cousins and they were friends.

...But I thought this devotional plan was about doing meaningful work in seasons of transition?

Don’t worry, it is.

As the chapter unfolds, we see Mary in the transitional season between all the miraculous promises of God about her unborn son and holding him in her arms. She knew the consequences for a young woman in her condition, becoming the target of ridicule, isolation, shame, even the possibility of being stoned. I don’t think we can adequately imagine the range of emotions she felt as she navigated this.

So, what does scripture say she did? Mary did the hard work of confiding in a trusted friend.

Luke 1:56 says, “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”

When God is stirring something in us, preparing to birth something new – whether it’s a new business, a new challenge, taking on a new role – we should not carry it alone. Like Mary, we need to do the work of confiding in someone.

You may be thinking, “Well, spending time with a trusted friend doesn’t sound like work.” You are right. The work is making sure it happens. The work is saying a clear no to some things, which is the only way you can say a strong yes to it. The work is following through and showing up when other things call for your time and attention. The work is not letting the precious time get squeezed out by lesser demands.

Take some time to begin the work of confiding.

• Who is the right person to walk alongside me during this time of transition? Who loves me enough to tell me the truth? Who can dream with me and challenge me as I journey toward this new thing God has for me?
• When will I contact them? When will I meet with them? How often do we need to talk at a heart level?

Close in Prayer

God, thank You for this thing that you are stirring me and this time in-between. I long to see it birthed, but between now and then, I will waiver, I will want to give up, I will be tempted to surrender to internal and external criticism. Begin to prepare me and my confidant that I described above to walk this journey humbly with You. Amen.