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Transition has a way of stirring us up. It’s uncomfortable, sometimes even painful—but it’s a wonderful teacher. In seasons when everything feels uncertain, God often invites us to slow down, ask the hard questions, and listen more closely for His voice.
My husband recently stepped down as the lead pastor of our church after 16 years. He had been serving there while also working full-time as a high school principal and pursuing his PhD. It simply became too much, and after much prayer, he felt released. It was time to step away.
So now, we find ourselves in a place of transition. Waiting. Wondering. Asking God what’s next. And in this in-between space, I’m reminded again of how important it is to have grace—for ourselves, and for each other.
Grace to Grow, Grace to Change
When things are comfortable, we tend to stay in our rhythms. But when life gets disrupted, we’re forced to re-examine what we truly believe. Do I really trust that God has a plan for me? Do I believe He knows where He’s leading me—even when I don’t?
Seasons like this reveal a lot about our hearts. They show us where we’ve been relying on our own strength instead of His.
I’ve been reminded that our story does have to look like everyone else’s. Our life doesn’t have to go the way we thought it would. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s beautiful.
My Story Didn’t Start in a Church Pew
I didn’t grow up in a Christian home. I grew up in a home marked by alcoholism and instability. My parents didn’t attend church, but thankfully, I had a grandmother who did. She lived next door and faithfully brought me with her every Sunday.
Those early experiences planted seeds in my heart, but I quickly learned that the life I lived at home didn’t match the words I heard in church. As a child, that created a lot of confusion. I often felt like I didn’t fit in.
As I grew older, I drifted. I stopped going to church and began to question everything I thought I knew about God. Is He real? If He is, does He care? Is the version of faith I saw growing up even true?
But God is so faithful.
My senior year of college, everything changed. I had a true encounter with Jesus—not just a confession of faith, but a real, unmistakable new beginning. I was born again. And while part of me was afraid to believe it would last, there was also a deep assurance: I wasn’t doing this alone anymore. God would help me.
A Verse That Lit the Path Forward
In those early days of my faith, I was lonely. I didn’t have a Christian friend group. I’d walk into a campus Bible study and sit quietly in the back, unsure of where I belonged. But one night, someone handed me a flyer with a Bible verse at the top—and it was like a light turned on in my soul.
“For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
—Jeremiah 29:11 (NASV)
It wasn’t just a verse—it was a promise. A lifeline. At a time when I had no idea what my future held, God let me know He did..
I’ve never forgotten that moment.
Your Story Doesn’t Have to Look Like Theirs
Over the years, God has led me in ways I never expected. I had a career I loved. But when I became a mother, something in my heart shifted. I wanted to be home. I wanted to give my children the kind of home I didn’t have growing up.
But we weren’t in a place financially where that could happen—not yet. I was making good money. Quitting my job would mean cutting our income in half. And so, I wrestled.
I read books, sought wisdom, and tried to learn everything I could about homemaking and motherhood. One book in particular offered practical help—until I got to the chapter that said every Christian woman should be a stay-at-home mom.
Blanket statements about what “every Christian” should do isn’t helpful for anyone.
I wanted to be a SAHM —but I couldn’t make it happen. Not yet. And instead of feeling encouraged, that book made me feel guilty. Condemned. As if I were disobeying God simply because I couldn’t do what someone else said was the only right way.
But here’s what I’ve come to understand with time: God’s plan for me won’t look exactly like His plan for you. And that’s not only okay—it’s intentional.
Grace for Each Other, Grace for Ourselves
The body of Christ is diverse on purpose. No two fingerprints are the same. No two voices are the same. And no two callings are identical.
God is creative. He writes stories that are custom-designed for each of His children. What He asks of you may not be what He asked of me. And when we try to force others into our mold, we not only hurt them—we limit what God might want to do in their lives.
I had a friend once who, like me, longed to stay home with her children. But after a painful divorce, she found herself parenting alone. There was no option for her to stay home. Do you think God condemned her for that? Of course not. Her heart was tender. Her situation was complex. And God met her right where she was.
We need to do the same for each other.
What God Is Saying to You
Your relationship with God is very personal. That doesn’t mean truth is relative—there are absolutes in Scripture. But within the bounds of God’s Word, we have incredible freedom.
The important thing is that we learn to ask: Lord, what are You saying to me?
That question changes everything. It takes our eyes off of comparison and helps us walk in confidence. Not because we’re doing it perfectly, but because we’re doing it with Him.
Trust the God Who Leads You
God isn’t asking you to fit into someone else’s box. He’s inviting you to trust His voice.
The condemnation I felt as a young mom—that guilt for not being able to immediately quit my job and become a SAHM— taught me something valuable. It taught me to listen to the Holy Spirit above all else. And it gave me compassion for others who are doing the best they can with the season they’re in.
If you’re there now—wrestling with your choices, unsure of whether you’re doing it “right”—can I just encourage you? If you’re seeking the Lord and doing your best to walk in obedience, you’re doing it right.
Let Him lead you. He knows the plans He has for you. He sees your circumstances. And He’s not rushing you or shaming you—He’s walking with you.
You Don’t Have to Do This Alone
If this message resonated with you today, I’d love to invite you to join my email list. I send out weekly encouragement to help women like you stay grounded in grace and truth as you follow God’s call—whatever that looks like for your life.
Click HERE to subscribe and let’s walk this journey together.
You’re not alone, and you’re not behind. You’re exactly where He can meet you.
With grace,
Audrey
© Audrey McCracken Creatives LLC, 2025
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