The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

What’s your favorite thing that summer brings? For some, it's enjoying the sunshine that never seems to go away, for others, it's the freedom of schedules maybe you simply like all the watermelon that comes with summer. As a kid this freedom is very evident, school has wrapped up and life has no worries. The only thing you have to worry about is your parents giving you some type of chore or job to do over the summer, bummer. As adults life doesn’t seem to change all that. But even for adults summer is different. You may go on vacation, and you find yourself with more daylight after work, for some life seems to slow down. Whether you are a kid or an adult working, summer is a time transition. How do we navigate these transitions in life? Does the Bible have any clues? Let’s find out! 

Seasons of transition are often thought of as challenging things. Whether it be due to a transition in work, location, or family dynamic we often express that change is hard. The Bible has a lot to say about the trials of life. Often it tells us to stand strong like in the case of Deuteronomy 31:8 which says “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” NIV What a beautiful encouragement! God has promised to be our guide through life. When was the last time you got lost in a new place? Wouldn’t it have been awesome to have a guide? God has promised to go before you and then come back to go with you. What an awesome God. 

I remember being afraid of the dark as a kid. I hated going down the hall of my house at night. I hated being the last one in the room as I turned off the lights. The house that I grew up in became a terrifying place at night when all the lights were off. That transition from day into night was somewhat of a major problem for 6-year-old Logan. Thankfully 6-year-old me had a constant companion in my twin sister Lydia. She would hold my hand and get me through the dark times. Life has some darker times too, but the Bible has promised us a light. This light comes in the form of Jesus, He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV 

Not all of life’s transitions are dark. Some transitions aren’t as stark as day into night. In some transitions like summer, there might even be more sun shining. The Lord has promises for those times too! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Cor. 5:17 NIV  Paul’s wise words ring true for our lives. When we abide in Christ, we are made new, life’s new seasons are wonderful opportunities when we embrace Christ’s changing power in our lives. 

The Bible is full of evidences that God is with us through the transitions of life, both the good and the bad, the sad and the happy. What a blessing it is to know that we have a God who cares about the seasons that life brings us. As this summer season begins and you are munching on watermelon, spending time with family and friends, going on adventures let us remember that God is right there with us. Maybe this summer isn’t bringing the joy that many associate with summer, maybe there are tough times ahead and life is seeming to take a turn in an unexpected way. God has promised to be there too, our God is not only a God of the good times, our God is not just a God of the bright summer, He is a God present in the dark night, in the tough times. Our God is a God of all transitions and phases of life, promising to be a guide and a light, promising to create in us a new life. Let us call upon the name of the Lord in all seasons of life, good or bad God is present in all seasons.