The Transition Season:

Hey sis, hey. In this episode, we’re discussing the transition season. When you leave a worldly lifestyle and begin the process of sanctification, you grieve who you once were—and that’s totally normal. I still have moments where those emotions flare up. But don’t get me wrong, it’s also exciting to see God do something new in your life—turning old wineskins into new wineskins.

“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands” (Isaiah 43:19, MSG).

I mean, who wouldn’t want to trade their ashes for something more classy? BUT let’s talk about the real nitty-gritty—the part most believers don’t talk about and the part where many people don’t make it out of to reach their breakthrough in their walk with Christ. I want to talk about the transition season and what to expect.

In 2019, when I left home to go to Oxford for school at Miami University—a school I believe God divinely allowed me to attend (love and honor if you’re also an alum)—I experienced major depression and anxiety. I left everything that was comfortable: my family, hometown, friends, then-boyfriend, my home—everything. I was so sad. Everything I once knew was no longer around me, and I was in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people. My whole routine changed. Who I once was, the people who knew me—it all changed.

I was left crippled because I couldn’t understand what God was truly doing, nor could I shift my perspective to accept the change.

We can compare my story to Lot’s wife (Genesis 19). Because I was Lot’s wife—and it delayed me tremendously. God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of its wickedness. Angels were sent to rescue Lot, Abraham’s nephew, and his family. As the city was being destroyed, Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. I can’t even judge her, because I’ve done the same thing—and in some ways, I still struggle. I:

• Longed for what I was leaving behind (my family, then-boyfriend, friends)

• Had a heart still attached to the lifestyle God was calling me from, which was playing small compared to what He had called me to do (sometimes our calling is too big for the city or people we’re trying to remain attached to)

• Experienced regret, disobedience, and hesitation

It’s not always easy to walk away from what God has instructed you to leave. And because I couldn’t let go of what God told me to release, I was delayed. You could say I was turned into a pillar of salt—but God’s grace!

Now, spiritually, think about this: God calls us home after we’ve already been indulging in sin. Some sins are addictive, which adds another layer of bondage. The lifestyle is fun. It’s comfortable. Then boom—we say the prayer, and now we’re called to take on a new life. A new spiritual identity as a child of God.

To walk away from the life you once lived—aka killing your flesh and your old self—you will grieve. Just like I grieved the life I had before leaving for college. And depending on what you’ve done, been through, and experienced, you may encounter the five stages of grief:

Denial – Denying that you can’t continue a sinful lifestyle while glorifying God.

Anger – Anger over traumatic experiences or life before coming to (or returning to) Christ. Detoxing from substances or environments can also bring anger.

Bargaining – The “what ifs” and “if onlys.” If it wasn’t aligned with God, give it to Him and let it go. I know it’s not easy. I remember the exact moment I walked away from God and the exact moment I came crawling back. During healing, I catch myself saying, “If only I hadn’t walked away, I’d be so far ahead.” Don’t do that. What happened, happened—and God already knew it would.

Depression – I pray you don’t experience this, but I’m being real. Obedience doesn’t eliminate sadness. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy does come in the morning.

Acceptance – When we finally accept where God is taking us and get on the same page with Him—picking up our cross daily and denying our flesh and feelings.

I want to encourage you not to give up during the transition season. A lot will come your way: familiar spirits, people reminding you of who you once were, boundary testing, spiritual warfare, and grieving your old lifestyle. But remember—God is doing a new thing in you, and those former things no longer exist in your identity.

Let’s rest on what Paul and Timothy wrote in Philippians 1:11:“May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

We got this, sis. It won’t happen overnight, but because the battle is already won, I’m confident you’ll crush serpent heads beneath your heel. Walk in dominion and authority. You got this.

See you next week!