Coaching: Embracing Change: Why Your Season of Transition Is Holy Ground
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
Coaching: Embracing Change: Why Your Season of Transition Is Holy Ground
Transitions are not interruptions to your life; they are the thin spaces where God does His most profound work. When you find yourself in the "in-between" of what was and what will be, you aren't lost: you are standing on holy ground where God is making a way in the wilderness.
Seasons of transition are holy ground because they represent a divine appointment where God dismantles our old dependencies to reveal a "new thing" (Isaiah 43:19). Transition is a sacred encounter where God’s presence becomes our primary navigation system, turning a confusing wilderness into a place of profound spiritual growth, healing, and clarified purpose.
Last Updated: July 13, 2026
The Moving Truck at Dusk: Emily’s Story
In Chapter 14 of my book, I share the story of Emily. I remember standing on the sidewalk with her as a yellow moving truck swallowed the last remains of her ten-year life in that neighborhood. The house was empty, the echoes of her children’s laughter still lingering in the hallways, but the keys were already sitting on the kitchen counter for the new owners.
"I feel like I'm disappearing," she whispered.
Emily wasn't just moving houses; she was moving through a divorce, a career shift, and a complete identity crisis. To the world, she was just a woman with a moving truck. But in the economy of Heaven, Emily was standing in a burning bush moment. She was in transition. And transition, though it feels like a wasteland, is actually fertile soil for the soul.
When we face change, our first instinct is to hurry through it. We want the "new thing" to arrive yesterday. But as Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven." If you are in transition, you aren't being punished; you are being prepared.
The 4-Phase Transition Framework
Navigating change requires more than just "hanging in there." It requires an understanding of the divine architecture of transition. In my coaching practice, I often guide people through these four distinct phases.
Phase 1: The Ending
Every transition begins with an ending. This is the "forgetting the former things" mentioned in Isaiah 43:18. It involves grief, letting go, and the often-painful process of closure. You cannot embrace the new while your hands are still white-knuckled around the old.
Phase 2: The Wilderness
This is the messy middle. It’s the space between the "no longer" and the "not yet." In the wilderness, your old maps don't work, and you haven't received the new ones yet. This is where most people quit or revert to old habits. However, this is also where God promises to "make a way" and provide "streams in the wasteland." It’s a season of spiritual awakening often disguised as exhaustion.
Phase 3: The Learning
As the dust of the wilderness begins to settle, you start to hear a new frequency. This is the phase of hearing God’s voice in the quiet. You learn that your value isn't tied to your title, your zip code, or your productivity. You learn that God is enough.
Phase 4: Holy Ground
Finally, you realize that the transition itself was the destination. You step into the "new thing" not as the person you were, but as someone who has been refined. Like Moses in Exodus 3:5, you recognize that God was in the transition all along. The ground you were so afraid of was actually holy.
Resisting Change vs. Embracing Change
How we approach transition determines whether we are transformed by it or merely exhausted by it. According to research on transition psychology, the internal psychological process is often more significant than the external change itself.
Feature | Resisting Change | Embracing Change (Holy Ground) |
Primary Emotion | Fear and Anxiety | Hopeful Expectation |
Focus | On what is being lost | On what God is building |
Posture | Clinging to the past | Open-handed surrender |
Outcome | Burnout and Bitterness | Growth and New Purpose |
View of God | Absent or Punishing | Present and Guiding |
Why the Wilderness Is Where the "New Thing" Starts
God rarely does a "new thing" in the middle of our comfort zones. He does it in the wilderness. Why? Because the wilderness is the only place where we stop looking at our own resources and start looking at His.
In Isaiah 43:19, God asks a haunting question: "Do you not perceive it?" He doesn't say "I will do a new thing one day." He says "I am doing a new thing." The work is already happening in the hidden places of your transition. If you are feeling spiritually and emotionally exhausted, it might be because you are trying to "perceive" with your eyes instead of your spirit.
Transition is the process of God recalibrating your true north. He is stripping away the noise so you can finally hear the signal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Seasons of Transition
Why does transition feel like I’m being punished?
Transition often feels like loss because it requires an "ending." However, biblical transition is always moving toward a greater purpose. As seen in the life of Joseph or Moses, the "downward" seasons were actually the path to their ultimate calling.
How long does the "Wilderness" phase last?
The duration varies, but the wilderness lasts as long as it takes for our old dependencies to be replaced by a deeper trust in God. It is not about the passage of time, but the posture of the heart.
How do I know if God is in this change or if I’m just making a mistake?
If a change leads you toward more humility, more dependence on Scripture, and more love for others, it is likely a divine transition. Mistakes usually lead to isolation and pride; divine transitions lead to "holy ground" and renewed surrender.
What should I do when I feel stuck in the middle?
Focus on "perceiving" the small shoots of growth. Ask God, "What are You teaching me today?" rather than "When will this end?" Practice daily stillness to quiet the anxiety of the unknown.
One Clear Next Step: If this resonated with you, one-on-one coaching may be your next faithful step. Learn more at https://www.laynemcdonald.com/blog
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