Strength in Transitions

Growing up in India, my journey through high school was anything but typical. Between 7th and 10th grade, I attended four different schools—one each year. It wasn’t because my family moved around a lot; it was more about balancing my parents' expectations with what each school had to offer.

Up until 7th grade, I was doing just fine, mostly because my sister was there too. She kept a watchful eye on me, making sure my parents were in the loop about how I was doing. When she graduated and moved on to college, my parents got anxious. They worried that without her around, they wouldn’t know what was going on with me. So, they decided to enroll me in a newly established, prestigious school that was gaining a great reputation. The catch? The schedule was intense—8 AM to 9 PM.

I didn’t notice much difference in myself, but my parents saw me losing weight and got concerned. They figured the rigorous schedule wasn’t doing me any good and moved me to a smaller, more laid-back school. Surprisingly, I loved it there. I felt comfortable and even excelled, consistently ranking first or second in my grade.

But instead of celebrating my success, my parents grew worried again. They couldn’t shake the feeling that if I was at the top, the competition must not be that strong. So, they moved me once more to a school they considered more competitive. That’s where I finally finished my 10th grade before heading off to college.

Looking back, I realize that each transition brought its own set of challenges. Anxiety, fear, and insecurity became my constant companions. Every time I started at a new school, it was like hitting the reset button on life. I worried about fitting in, making friends, and living up to expectations. Yet, through it all, I slowly learned to adapt. I found strength in the journey, not just from the support of friends and family, but from something deeper within me.

Transitions are tough. They test our resolve and make us question our purpose. I see a similar struggle in the lives of the disciples, especially Peter and his fellow followers of Jesus. Imagine leaving everything behind to follow a man believed to be the Messiah, only to find yourself caught in the tension between what you hoped for and what reality looked like.

In Acts 1:6-7, right after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples—still not fully grasping the bigger picture—asked Him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” Even after three years of witnessing miracles and hearing about God’s Kingdom, they still expected Jesus to take on a political role as King.

Yet Jesus didn’t get frustrated with them. Instead, He gently reminded them of the power they would receive—the kind of power that sustains faith through uncertain transitions. It wasn’t just about giving them information; it was about empowering them to become witnesses, not mere news carriers.

Faith is not just a label we wear; it’s the foundation that holds us steady through changing seasons. Faith and sight are constantly at odds. Sight seeks logic and understanding, but faith believes in God’s promises, even when reality doesn’t match expectations.

When Jesus spoke of being witnesses, He wasn’t just talking about sharing stories—they were to be living testimonies, having personally experienced God’s power. A witness is someone who has personally seen or experienced something, not just heard about it secondhand. Think of a courtroom setting—a witness must testify to what they have seen with their own eyes or experienced firsthand, not what they heard from someone else. In the same way, Jesus called the disciples to be witnesses of His resurrection and power. This calling wasn’t just to pass on knowledge but to share from their own transformation and encounters with the living God. Similarly, God is shaping you to be a witness, not just someone who repeats stories. Your experiences—both struggles and victories—are meant to demonstrate His unwavering goodness. Trust that even when things don’t make sense, God is using every season to build your story as a witness to His faithfulness.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for guiding me through every season and transition in my life. I admit that change often brings fear and anxiety, and I struggle to see the bigger picture. Help me to embrace faith over sight, trusting that You are shaping me to be a living witness of Your goodness and power.When I feel overwhelmed, remind me of Your promises. Strengthen me with Your Spirit to stand firm, not just as a storyteller but as one who has experienced Your transformative grace. Help me to see my trials as opportunities to know You more deeply and to testify of Your faithfulness. Empower me to be a witness, not just a messenger, so that my life reflects Your love and power. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.

Acts 1:4-8
And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”