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Over the last month or so, I’ve been dealing with multiple transitions that have added stress and excitement to my life. No major catastrophes like death or serious illness, praise God, but significant changes nonetheless. And I’ve never been a big fan of change.
I learned of the first major change about 6 weeks ago. The full-time job I’ve known for the last 12 years of my life fell victim to budget cuts, and the position was eliminated. Thankfully, God and my supervisor were both looking out for me. Another position existed on campus (I work at a university) within an area my supervisor manages, and he was able to secure that position for me with no loss of salary or benefits. God is good! But this is still a major life change for me.
Currently, I am a Testing Coordinator, which means I give CLEP exams, placement tests, offer proctoring services, process AP credit, etc. The job I will be moving to is in the Registrar’s Office. I’ll be in charge of managing the catalog and attending council meetings, updating prerequisites and dozens of new things that I haven’t even been exposed to yet. My previous position was very autonomous. I managed my own schedule and had the final say on nearly everything under my purview. In my new position, I’m going to have to learn an entirely new set of skills as well as work in a new environment and under a new structure that has much less autonomy. So much uncertainty!
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Yet there is quite a bit of positive change happening as well, because there are definitely a few things about my current position that I will not miss. Ha! Like working 3 Sundays during the summer for New Student Orientation testing and multiple Saturdays during the year to administer national standardized tests. And I’m excited about certain aspects of my new role. I’ll be able to use my writing and editing skills in producing the yearly catalog. I also already have a working relationship with many of the people in my new office, and I’m sure that we will get along well.
While the job transition has been the biggest addition of stress to my life recently, there are several other big items that have converged on me over the last few weeks:
- Job transition
- Book Deadline – Aug 15
- Losing weight (I’ve been in a program for about 12 weeks and have lost 18 pounds – Yay! But this means I haven’t been able to take advantage of the chocolate therapy that usually sees me through these types of hard times. Boo!)
- Oldest child is a senior in high school – meaning a year of doing some things for the last time accompanied by a touch of separation anxiety knowing she is bound for college and needs lots of guidance during this big life transition.
- Middle child just got his driver’s permit. Yes, taking a 15 year old driving adds quite a bit of stress to life.
- Need to prepare a workshop presentation for ACFW in Sept and do 4-5 paid critiques.
- Found out my publisher wants to take my book covers in a new direction – This is a positive stressor. They are doing this for my benefit, to expand my readership, and they’ve been great about asking me for my input. I’m truly excited at the prospect – yet having no direct control over the finished product is nerve-wracking!
So how have I survived so far? Lots of prayer. Lots of trust in the One Who Sees All to guide my steps and safeguard my future. Great support from family, co-workers, and friends. And a concerted effort on my part to count my blessings.
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With a background in clinical psychology – I have a deep belief in the power of positive thinking. Philippians 4 teaches us to think on things that are lovely, pure, right, true, admirable, and praiseworthy. To rejoice always and take our burdens to the Lord and he will give us peace. You cannot have peace if your mind is full of worry, doubt, bitterness, and complaining. Those things drain our energy and pull us farther away from the peace we crave.
So, I’ve been striving to focus on the positive, to fill my heart with excitement over new opportunities and the ability to leave certain unpleasant tasks behind. Some days I succeed more than others, but I know that the Lord will see me through.
My official changeover date is September 14 – right before I leave to got to Dallas for ACFW. If any of you feel so inclined, I would appreciate a prayer between now and then. And if any of you are facing a big transition in life, I would be happy to pray on your behalf as well. Just leave a note in the comment section, and I’ll take it before the Father today.
- How do you handle the stessors in your life?
- Any tips or tricks you can share to make this journey easier?
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Thank you for sharing about your transitions so openly. I am in the same state of flux, starting a new position with much more responsibility than the last, and while your first child is graduating, my last one is headed off to college in two weeks. I really needed to hear the encouragement in the words you shared, from your own heart and from the pages of scripture. Yes, please pray for me to overcome worry and feelings of inadequacy, replacing them with peace and certainty in God’s plan. I’ll be praying for you, that the transition will be smooth, that your relationships will be sweet, that your son will be a great driver(!) and that God will use the new book covers to catapult your readership to a new level. 😀
Brenda – I feel a sisterhood with you already! 🙂 Thank you so much for your sweet thoughts on my behalf. I crave those prayers because I know I need them so much. I will be praying for you in return in your own job transition and your soon to be empty nest. May the Lord fill your heart with peace and give you the skills and confidence to tackle your new responsibilities with grace and competence.
I have only experienced several of your stressors; teen-age driver and ushering the fourth and final child into college this year. Raising teens is not for the “faint of heart”! May the Lord give you “economy of time” during the next several months.
Thank you, Rebecca. I am in the midst of full-blown teen-ism. My daughter is 17 and my boys are 15 and 13. It gives me great hope and encouragement to hear that you successfully shepherded your 4 through these turbulent waters. The economy of time will be a blessing – and a healthy does of patience wouldn’t be amiss, either. Ha!
1 Peter 5:7
Amen, Sarah. I love that verse. Love the whole book of 1 Peter. Thank you for the reminder of how much our Lord cares and how eager he is to carry our burdens for us if only we will let go.
Hi Karen, It does sound like you have a lot going on! No wonder you’re feeling stressed. I can identify with the feeling. In the last few months I’ve also had some difficult challenges. My husband had foot surgery that required him to be off his feet for 6 weeks. I was concerned for him and “on call” more often than usual. One daughter has some serious health issues and needs my help with doctor appointments, etc. Another daughter graduated from her masters’ program and is now traveling in Africa. A very dear friend is fighting breast cancer and in the middle of chemo. My father-in-law passed away. I had tight deadlines and revision times for my latest book. More travel than usual. On top of that or maybe as a result of it. . . I had a case of shingles and now Lyme disease. Yikes! To deal with stress and restore some balance I am trying to keep a regular routine, not travel, get extra sleep, walk each day, take time for purposeful relaxation, get an occasional massage, make time for good talks with friends, cut out as many extra commitments as possible, and listen to lots of praise music. Daily time with the Lord is the best help of all. I hope your life settles down and you will experiencing His peace.
Thank you so much for sharing your own struggles, Carrie. Mine seem pretty small in comparison. I will certainly be praying for your health and your continued improvement. You are so wise to limit your commitments. It’s so hard to say no, but I think we all need to learn that skill in order to preserve our own health and well being sometimes. And daily time with the Lord is a must. I try to do that, but I’m afraid I often just squeeze him in here and there instead of intentionally setting aside blocks of time. I’ll work on getting back to his Word and spending more time in his presence. Thanks for the reminder!
Oh, Karen. What a lot of changes all at once! But thank you for setting an example for us on how to handle so much stress.
Thanks, Lynn. All we can do is take one thing at a time and trust God to get us through, rejoicing in the blessings he bestows along the journey. Sometimes it’s hard for me to see the blessings when I’m surrounded by dark clouds, but if I actively look for them, I find more than I expect.
Praying for you, Karen! We are trying to move into my grandparents’ old farm house and the appraiser has us stopped until the barn can be torn down! It’s the seller’s job, but we want the wood, and we were hoping to do it after we moved in. With 7 kids and our house to prep to sell, this is making things more stressful 🙂 Thanks and blessings!
Wow! Seven kids! Never mind the move – that has enough stress right there. Ha! I’m sure they are also your biggest source of blessing. I’ll be praying that your move gets back on track and that you and your family make a home rich in love in that house. 🙂
Transitions ARE stressful! For me, feeling confused (because I don’t yet understand how to do what’s being asked) is the most challenging part. Just this morning on the way to school my six year old was tearfully sniffling and lamenting, “1st grade is so hard!” We prayed over it and I gave her a pep talk about having a positive attitude and being patient with herself. Of course she doesn’t have the hang of 1st grade yet. It’s only her third day and she has a new teacher, a new room, a new building, and a different group of classmates to adjust to. These adjustments take time! As a mom, I can see that. But yet I’m quick to let my own attitude fray or to be impatient with myself when I’m grappling with an adjustment in my own life.
Btw, congrats on losing 18 pounds. Wow!
May the Lord cover you with peace and may these new beginnings prove to be wonderful. I’ll pray for you!
Thanks so much, Becky! And boy do I sympathize with your first grader. I haven’t moved to the new office yet, but I’m already feeling the nerves of a new place with new rules and new people to adjust to. I’m trying to plan ahead for changes that I think are coming, but until I’m there I won’t really know for sure how things will work. Trust and patience are hard, but they bring peace and that is such a blessing. Every day I remind myself of that and try to let go a little more.
Right there with ya, Karen! After years of praying for a new job, the Lord just handed me one… in a new state! So not only gave I had to cope with interviews and applicant screenings to find, hire and my replacement at the old job — and at our busiest time of year, too — but I’ve also had to find a new place to live in my new state of Montana, pack up my things, make all the moving arrangements, sell one car and get the other in for repairs before a 900-mile move, all in less than a month! Plus my critique partners and I just launched TWO new websites, I have dozens of books to read for reviews, plus a major freelance content edit for a client… and, oh yeah, keep writing my own book! Suffice it to say, my biggest coping factor is learning to say no and/or let things go. In this case, I had to cancel my registration for ACFW, which really stinks! 🙁 But I have such total peace about it that I know God has better plans in store for me. Other than that, it’s simply one day at a time. I’m living very Matthew 6:32-33 right now! 🙂 Excited to see your new covers, and kudos on losing weight!!! That’s a huge accomplishment!
Oh, wow, Amy. I’m soooo thankful I’m not juggling a move on top of all this. Blessings on you for tackling such a huge step. I can only imagine the craziness you’re going through right now. I’ll be praying that the dust will settle soon and that things will smooth out into a wonderful time of accomplishment and grace-filled living. 🙂 Plus, you’re in MONTANA! I’ve always wanted to visit that area. The mountains. The cowboys. Sigh. Sounds lovely. If it wasn’t for the frantic move and new job and all that other stuff. 🙂
I will certainly miss you this year at ACFW, but I can totally understand your reasoning and have full faith that God will bring blessing out of this for you. Keep on living in Matthew 6:32-33 and everything will turn out for the best. Love you, girl!
Love your post, Karen…….a blessing to me. Praying for all you mentioned; I request prayer for health issues and other needs that Lord knows about.
I’m praying for you right now, Jackie. May the Lord bless you and those around you.
The new driver is a big enough stressor to make the others seem like child’s play!!! Glad not all the stress is negative! I have faith you will do awesome in all your new endeavors!
Ha! He’s my oldest boy, too. My daughter started off very timid. Thankfully he’s not a hot rod (yet), but it does add to my blood pressure. 🙂
Thank you for all your encouragement and support!
I wish you the best of luck on your new job
Thanks so much, Gretchen. 🙂
Karen, you have my prayers. Moving, whether to a new job or a new house or a different place, is one of the biggest stress factors, good or bad. My daughter and her Air Force husband are moving to Japan in November–for four years! I’ve prayed for comfort and peace and that I won’t get all stressed out and upset her! Your post helped me to remember that worry can’t fix anything. We have to trust in God’s strength to see us through. I hope you love your new job and I know you’ll make your deadline. (I have an August deadline, too. ) Thanks for the comforting words!
Thanks, Lenora. Having a daughter move to Japan is a HUGE adjustment. I’ll be praying for you and your family for sure. Wow, what a change. Thank heaven for all the technology we have these days to stay in touch. My daughter is going to college close to home, so I’ll still see her frequently, but I’m still a little nervous about letting the fledgling fly on her own.
Karen, I will certainly be praying for all these things in your life. I am 74 yrs young and have just completed a training program with Proverbs 31 Ministries to be a small Facebook group leader. So beginning next month, I will be leading my own group. I would appreciate your prayers as I approach this new ministry possibility.
Absolutely, Nancy! What a blessing you will be. I know that God will work through you to bring joy and comfort into many lives. I admire you for continuing to learn new things and finding new opportunities to minister to others. What an example!
Oh goodness! I will definitely be praying for you – that God will quiet you with His love & be mighty in your life during this season of transition.
Thank you so much, Carrie. Prayer is such a blessing!
Hey Karen! I’m late getting on here today but wanted to say I’m praying for you.
You’re dealing with a lot right now but how wonderful that you realize Who is in control. 🙂
This past weekend we helped our “baby” move to Pittsburgh to begin working on his Masters at Carnegie Mellon University.
Making the drive from Atlanta to Pittsburgh (and back 3 days later) made me realize just how far away he is now. 🙁
But this is a wonderful opportunity for my son and I’m trusting the Lord to watch over him – – just as He’s always done.
Hugs, Patti Jo
Thanks, Patti Jo. I’m so thankful my daughter will be going to school much closer to home, but I remember what it was like to leave my home in California in order to go to college in Texas, 2500 miles away. Exciting yet a little scary. I know your “baby” will do great it Pittsburgh, and I’ll pray that you handle the transition well, too. 😉