[continual transitions]

Today my devotion talked about God helping us through time of transition - changing jobs, illness, loss, new family situations, etc. I think all of life is a transition though, you know. If we're seeking to be better people, if we're growing, if we're continually putting aside our pride for God's promises, then we're always in transition. Always moving forward. Always trying to improve what is to what can be.

The trouble, then, is not so much about the transitions but whether or not we have the courage to allow them to happen. It's easy to get stuck in our ways, our ideas and our comforts. We like to be obedient to things that are easy or things we want. But it's hard to be obedient when change isn't necessarily what we want. It's easy to say yes to transitions or changes we like. It's much harder to do so when it's something we don't.

I don't think God ever asked us to like everything though. He asked us to trust and be obedient, but He knows our minds are short sighted, our loyalties fail us and our heart's good intentions don't always carry through.

However, David McNally once said, "Our lives are a continuing journey - and we must learn and grow at every bend as we make our way, sometimes stumbling, but always moving, toward the finest within us." Despite our failures, our fears or our struggles, we've gotta keep running the race. We have to keep moving on the course of life. We must keep striving for the best within us, and in turn, we may inspire others to do the same.

Isaiah 1:19 says, "If you are willing and obedient you will eat the best from the land." It's not just good. It's not just on par. It's the best. The greatest. The most fulfilling, and that's what God promises to give each of us if we will accept the challenges or transitions He puts in front of us every day. So even though the finish line is our ultimate goal, we cannot forget the everyday blessing of continual transitions. And we cannot forget all the miles along the way that make us who we are.