We are now in transition… I recently accepted a position at a church in Johnson City, TN, and we are days away from packing up everything we own and moving.

Here’s a few things I’m learning about transition and life in general through this process.

1. Moving is tough and requires faith.

Man, it’s tough to leave a great community and vibrant ministry to go somewhere the Lord is leading. And in the decision to go, I’ve wanted (and prayed for) clarity… Clarity around what I want to do and where God’s leading our family.

But that prayer has not been answered for me, at least in the way that I would have preferred. As much as I would have wanted Him to, God did not tell me audibly what to do. He didn’t part the clouds and come into my living room and write on the wall, “go to Johnson City…”

We made a decision – one that I believe was God’s leading based on our circumstances, passions, gifts, a lot of wise counsel that we sought, etc – but we did make the call. And if God would have rescued us from that, from the crucible of making a huge life decision, then we would not have had to put our faith in Him. At least in the same way.

Keller says that God’s guidance is more often something He does than something He gives. And I agree… As we walk by faith, God guides us. But He doesn’t always reveal a specific path that is His will.

This does not mean we don’t pray for clarity or try to do the work of discerning God’s leading. It just means we don’t camp out until we have “a sign”.

2. People matter.

Leaving a place where you have been invested for a lot of years brings clarity about what’s really important. And it’s the stuff. It’s the things you acquire. The tasks accomplished, the success, the promotions… Yeah, right.

Leaving has been harder than I expected. That’s what has surprised me most in this process. And it’s not the job per se (though I will certainly miss a lot of what I’ve gotten to be a part of here)… it’s the people! That’s what really matters.

When you leave the place where God has you now, you’re not going to wish your performance was better but that your investment in people was deeper.

And I gotta believe that when it’s all said and done at the end of our lives, we’ll feel the same.

3. We are not that important.

None of us are as important as we think we are. We are all replaceable. It’s one thing to say that and another to believe it and walk in it.

I’ve had the benefit for the last 7 years of being a part of a healthy organization with a lot of talented leaders, and that’s long enough to know that people leave. And when they do, everything goes on just fine without them.

I’ve had the unique situation of staying long enough to see my replacement hired, and let me tell you it has been awesome. It’s so cool to look ahead and think about what God will do in this next season with someone else at the helm.

The truth is that God is going to do big things, without me. And I can either be threatened by that or celebrate the fact that God is not dependent on me or anyone else. I’m fooling myself if I think I’m indispensable.

What are some things God has taught you through transition in your own life?