“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Ps 32:8)
Life is a long journey. Changes and difficulties are inevitable. Our life includes many changes—graduation, marriage, career, children, illness, relocations, retirement. Some changes are voluntary; others are forced by circumstances. Some changes bring joy; others, sorrow and confusion. All changes can become positive, strengthening experiences for those under God’s care.
The hymn God Leads Us Along reflects the progression of our own life-changing experiences. While change is an inevitable part of life, our sovereign and loving God is always with us in times of transition, and we can trust Him to order all the events in our lives according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
People respond to life’s changes in different ways. Some fear the unknown. Often people lack self-confidence in times of transition. Others experience frustration, loneliness, and pain. The antidote for these feelings is faith and active obedience. Making it through big life changes without the help of the Lord is difficult. God has promised that He will instruct, counsel, teach, and guide us. He is always watching over us. When we face changes, studying the Bible and meditating on His words become more important than ever. Through constant prayers, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will guide us. God will bless us with inner strength in times of distress, which will allow us to experience Him and deepen our personal relationship with the Lord.
God designed each season to have its own beauty and purpose; hence, no season of life should cause us to despair. For many, midlife is a time of transition. Some may experience a midlife crisis. At this stage of life, the inner focus shifts. We no longer think about how many years we have already lived but rather, how many years we may have left. We should consider which changes need to be made so that the rest of our life’s journey is productive and spiritually fruitful. As we age, our looks, health, and circumstances change—often in ways we do not desire. Yet, when we realize that God carries us through the changing seasons of life, we come to terms with the inevitability of aging. Those who live for Christ will bear fruit not only in their youth, but also in their old age (Ps 92:12–15).
Are our relatives and friends, or even we ourselves, passing through a valley of life called depression? Although life is so unpredictable, we can still regain courage and strength, and cherish every moment with our family and friends. All we need to do is to turn our eyes upon Jesus—our fortress and source of joy. Hope in the Lord and He will comfort and support us.