Paul experienced perhaps the greatest transition ever recorded. Once an adversary of Jesus' followers, he became the great defender and teacher of the believers he previously persecuted.
"Transition--a word that has become a popular buzzword in our day--has been greatly misunderstood," according to Tavares Robinson. "Some equate transition with change, but the two words do not have the same meaning."
Robinson details the process of the believer's transition as a necessary step for growth. He recalls a statement from a neighbor who is a pilot: "For us as pilots, it's all about the journey, but for passengers, it's all about the destination."
Believers are often impatient and desire results immediately. In fact, "Our hurry to reach our destination can apply to our relationship with God. . . . but he is a God of patience who takes delight that we learn from each step of the journey," Robinson asserts. He explains four steps to becoming transformed by God's work in our lives:
- Detachment--A moment of leaving everything behind. Think of Jesus' disciples, who had to respond to him when he said, "Follow me. I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19).
- Disidentification--A process of losing our image and our identity. Think of Naomi, who lost everything.
- Disappointment--A wake-up call to who we really are. Think of Nicodemus, who realized that he is not the person esteemed by his peers.
- Disconcertment--A time when we feel lost, alone, and unheard. Think of Job: "Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him; He turns on the right, I cannot see Him" (Job 23:8-9).
What do these four steps lead to? Transformation. But when? The triumphant end of Transition: Reforming the Heart for Growth explains God's promise to those who persevere. May one of those overcomers be you.