Recently, I was thinking about the crossovers of life as I literally was on a boat crossing over from Sjællands Odde to Aarhus. On this particular crossover, there were high waves and it made me nautious. The weather was foggy and it was hard to see the horizon.
In the same way, spiritual, mental and emotional crossovers can be surrounded by lack of clarity about what’s waiting on the other side. As we navigate the transitions of endings, in-betweens and new beginnings, it can make us a bit nautious too.
A snapshot of my own recent transitions include ending a two-year-season at an apartment and ending my season of six years of studying. Currently I am transitioning out of a study-job I’ve had for the last two years, and I am in the process of handing over Citycare while I’m on maternity leave, which is the social justice ministry in our church which my husband and I have started and have served at the last three years since we got married. I’m also waiting for my baby girl to arrive and our family to expand while searching for my first full-time-job. We just finished the in-between time of living with my generous parents for one and a half month, and now we’ve entered a beginning with a new apartment in a new neighbourhood.
All of these crossovers I’m experiencing are a natural part of progression in life. Some of the endings (that naturally beckon a new beginning) happened due to perseverance and diligence in finishing up an education for instance, and other endings happened because of intentional faith-steps that’s part of the Christian pilgrimage journey.
If you are also navigating transitions with all its bends and curves, I pray that the following insight into the Israelites’ transition – from captivity in Egypt to crossing over the Red Sea into their promised land – will help you in your transition.
🔑 Keep your mouth shut
In the in-between when we’ve left something behind and is moving over to something new, our season can seem odd to others, and even to ourselves. We might not know where the steps we’re taking are leading. For the Israelites, the in-between caused some doubt, insecurity and distrust in their leader:
“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up and saw them—Egyptians! Coming at them!
They were totally afraid. They cried out in terror to God. They told Moses, “Weren’t the cemeteries large enough in Egypt so that you had to take us out here in the wilderness to die? What have you done to us, taking us out of Egypt? Back in Egypt didn’t we tell you this would happen? Didn’t we tell you, ‘Leave us alone here in Egypt—we’re better off as slaves in Egypt than as corpses in the wilderness’” Exodus 14:10 MSG.
In the in-between, the Israelites spoke from a limited perspective because they couldn’t see the full picture yet. Their words were full of complaint, blame and wishing themselves back to the past. The great part of their complaint was that they directed it towards the source, God, who can work with where we’re at.
God’s answer of reassurance and calm to their panic came through the Israelites’ leader, Moses, whom He had put over them. Moses exhorted them:
“Don’t be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you’re never going to see them again.
God will fight the battle for you.
And you? You keep your mouths shut!” Exodus 14:13 MSG.
If you’re doubting like the Israelites were, be comforted that this is normal in transition. But don’t let that become an excuse for staying in a rut of negativity and distrust. If you don’t know what to declare yet over your new beginning and how to explain it to others, simply don’t.
*However, with new decisions, definitely talk them through with a counsellor in your life for perspective and accountability, and a couple of trusted friends.
Instead of focusing on how others perceive you and your life in the change, worship your way through the fog. As Moses counselled the Israelites, keep your mouth shut, lean back and see what God will do. Keep gathering the puzzle pieces of glimpses you do have into your future. The dizziness is normal as you cross over. It will all get clearer as you move towards the horizon.
God has got you. You are crossing over.
🔑Get moving
When we’ve gotten the revelation instilled in our hearts that ultimately God fights for us – that He’ll make the way and prepare the land we’re crossing over into – we don’t have to justify, rationalise or explain what might not even be clear to ourselves yet – we’ll have to then get courageous and start moving:
“God said to Moses: “Why cry out to me? Speak to the Israelites. Order them to get moving. Hold your staff high and stretch your hand out over the sea: Split the sea! The Israelites will walk through the sea on dry ground” Exodus 14:15 MSG.
Faith requires action. To cross over, we need to put one foot in front of the other. What can hinder us from stepping out and get moving is the awkwardness. The stretch and the unknown can look a little messy as we are walking where we haven’t been before.
As you process how you’ll get moving, what do you discern need to be crossed off your to-do-list and left at the foot of the cross instead? Not everything of the old can coexist with the new.
I’ve found that some giants in my life – some struggles that I’ve only gotten partial deliverance from – often resurfaces as I’m about to enter something new that requires faith. Even though the giant – in this case of old memories of rejection and pain – will try to make me shrink down from rising into the new, the resurface is actually a great opportunity to receive deeper healing so that the new God is birthing can be enjoyed in greater ways – with no yuck from the past trying to haunt me and ruin the new wine.
When the Israelites’ went in to scout out Canaan – the new land God had for them – they noticed some giants in the new land too that made them shrink back and feel insecure, unworthy and incapable.
“There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight” Numbers 13:33 NIV.
No matter if the giant you’re facing as you get moving towards the new is something old resurfacing or a new challenge trying to squeeze the courage out of you, continue moving! Know that this is only confirmation you’re moving in the right direction, being courageous with your life. Other people’s deliverance is tied to your obedience. Fight through with them in mind.
God has got you. You are crossing over.
🔑 Declare who God is
As you fight the urge to having to explain the change that’s upon you – as you get moving with the directions you’ve got and conquer giants on the way – declare who you know God to be.
I love the context of the psalm below, by the Levite and musician Asaph. In the midst of the temple being destroyed in Jerusalem, Asaph is believed to have penned this Psalm to give praise and declare dependence on God in their hard situation. He is looking back at the Israelites’ breakthrough in the past to be encouraged in what’s in from of them now -the crisis of the temple being destroyed:
By Asaph’s example, I’m encouraged to remember God’s past gracious supplies and even search out others who have gotten a breakthrough in the area I’m believing to cross over into.
The cross has ensured that you can cross over – from death to life, from emptiness to a life beaming with purpose in your every step.
Remember, Moses led a whole people to cross over with only a staff in his hand. When God says ‘go’, go empowered in His strength and trust that what you have is enough!
God has got you. You are crossing over.
All my love,
Sandra.
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