We were living on the family farm in rural New York, happily publishing our bi-monthly magazine, Family Scrapbook. The half-wall in the living room made it possible for us to work in our office while our little boys played nearby. Tom’s parents lived next door and helped us out with mailings and occasional babysitting. We loved being close to family while enjoying the benefits of country living. 

But we were facing a crisis. Even without hired employees, publishing a magazine is a costly business, and we were almost out of money. We knew something had to change, but we didn’t know what.

So we put the May/June issue in the mail on a Monday afternoon, loaded up our vehicle, and began the cross country trip to the Pacific Northwest. We settled in with my parents as we explored funding options and Tom looked for a job. Weeks went by, with little evidence that God was at work on our behalf. 

One evening, desperate for direction, we invited Dad and Mom to pray with us as we sought the Lord. “Please, Father, just show us one step we can take. We will take it, and we’ll trust you for the next step.” 

The following morning Tom received some news from his temp agency. “There is a company we think you’d be a good fit for, but they will be closed for two weeks for a remodel. If they want to interview you after they reopen, we’ll let you know.”

That was just the answer we needed. Two weeks would be enough to get us to New York, pack up our house, shut down the magazine and get back for the interview that we felt confident the Lord would provide. The next day Tom and I flew out and two weeks later we pulled into my parents’ driveway in our moving truck.

The phone call offering Tom an interview came as we were moving into our rental. He got the job and our boys began preschool and kindergarten in public school. 

The transitions from country life to city life; from self-employment to working for a company; from being home together as a family to each one having their own routines outside the house—these were huge for us.

In retrospect, this transition shouts to me of God’s faithfulness. He responded to our prayer for guidance. He was with us through the mishaps and adventures of our two cross-country road trips that summer. He set us down in a church we loved with many friends from years past. And he provided for us financially so that the little money we had when we returned to the Northwest was sufficient for our needs. He had not forgotten us!

No one can escape unexpected circumstances in life, nor can we prepare for absolutely every possibility. These things are out of our hands. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purposes that prevail” (Proverbs 19:21). 

What do we do when unexpected circumstances derail our plans? How do we move forward in the face of staggering transition?

We put out hope in Christ. We hold loosely to our plans and tightly to God, whose plans are always good. The pages of the Bible are filled with examples of God’s faithfulness and grace, and we can trust that our unchanging God will not fail us. (See Hebrews 13:8)

Whatever transitions you are facing today, your loving Father knows your concerns. All you need to do is trust. He will take care of you.