Skip to main content

Strength for the Journey

 


Life transitions—whether they arrive expected or uninvited—can shake our sense of stability. Resilience doesn’t mean avoiding the discomfort of transition; it means learning how to move through it with strength and adaptability.

 

Resilience in transition begins with self-awareness. Naming what you’re experiencing—loss, uncertainty, or even excitement—creates space for honesty. From there, resilience is strengthened by connection. Leaning on trusted friends, mentors, or supportive communities reminds us that we don’t have to carry everything alone. Sharing our stories, listening to others, and leaning into support strengthens our capacity to carry uncertainty.

 

Another key is flexibility. Transitions often bring detours we didn’t plan for. Holding loosely to old expectations while staying open to new possibilities allows growth to emerge. Alongside flexibility, nurturing small daily rhythms—such as rest, gratitude practices, or time in nature—provides a sense of grounding.

 

Finally, resilience deepens when we care for ourselves with compassion. Transitions are rarely linear. Giving yourself permission to stumble, pause, or adjust keeps you from confusing progress with perfection. Nurturing ourselves reminds us that resilience isn’t about pushing harder but about restoring rhythms.


When we cultivate these practices, transitions become less about what we’re leaving behind and more about who we are becoming. Resilience doesn’t erase the challenges; it equips us to face them with courage, grace, and hope.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

January Newsletter

    SHANNON’S CORNER Winter Blast… Brr. It’s cold outside.  Winter is not a favorite season for many people, but I love winter. There is a beauty in the dormant, snow covered, and coldness of winter that embraces and permeates us to the depths of our bones.  It reminds me of the Lord’s love that embraces and permeates us to the depths of our heart and soul.  The snow brings a smile to my face as I delight in the quietness, calming, beautifying, and a slower pace.  Recently, I was talking with someone in Louisiana who was going to be making a snowman and snow angel with his granddaughter.  What playfulness and awe to experience the Lord’s beauty. Community is so important to our lives that even the Lord noticed how alone Adam was in the garden that He made Eve.  It is where you are seen, known, and find belonging.  It has been something I have prayed for, asked you all to be praying for, have sought after in ...

March Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work.  Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground.  Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...

October Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...