Transition and Change with Shar Walker
On today’s episode, we’re chatting with Shar Walker about a topic that is near and dear to my heart as a former military spouse: transition and change. This conversation covers different types of change: transitioning jobs, seasons, locations, churches, welcoming a new member of the family, and the list goes on. Shar pointed us to the stability that we have in Christ and the home we have in heaven if we are in him, as we continue sojourning on this side of eternity. SharDavia “Shar” Walker lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband and son. She works on staff at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) as the Senior Writer. Shar is a writer and speaker and is pursuing a MA in Christian Studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
Can you tell us a little about who you are and what you do?
What are some transitions you've faced in your own life?
What are some transitions the listeners might be facing right now?
What is it that anchored you in the midst of transition and change?
Where do we see God's people navigating transition and change?
What are some passages of Scripture that help you stay grounded in the midst of transition?
What ways have you helped your kiddos and your spouse navigate change?
As believers, what hope do we maintain in the midst of transition? What do we have to look forward to?
NOTEWORTHY QUOTES
“Any element of change brings out things that were probably already there.”
“When big changes like this happen, it feels like we get put into a pressure cooker, and stress and anxiety and fear start to press in. What comes out, what oozes out is stuff that was already there but may not have been revealed as quickly had this situation not happened... It reveals things that we have already been wrestling with.”
What anchors you in the midst of transition and change? ... “God’s Word and his voice. Experiencing God through his Word and through prayer and through his people.”
“One danger of transition and change is that we can be more spiritually vulnerable, especially as it relates to envy… but being steeped in God’s Word can protect us from the envy that can begin to creep in.”
“As much as possible, do not underestimate what I believe is God’s greatest gift next to Christ, which is his people.”
“We are hardwired for deep intimacy with others.”
“What has kept me anchored is close relationships and being tethered to God’s Word.”
“In transition we are launched into the grey of life, where we are forced to trust the Holy Spirit for both wisdom and discernment and to know what to do for that appropriate time.”
“In these moments we realize our lack of control and I think the Lord is pushing us to trust in him.”
“The nature of lament is that sometimes there is not an immediate answer. There’s a continuous grief that’s connected to it.”
“In the in-between, where you’re wrestling… that’s a good place to rest.”
“Seasons of transition tend to have a lot more question marks, we start to ask ourselves, ‘how am I going to get my _____?’ My money? My food? I think what we want in those moments, and what the Israelites wanted, we want to know our provision will not have an end. Interestingly enough though in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to pray ‘give us this day our daily bread.’ But we want a yearly and monthly promise of provision. We want to know our needs will be taken care of, but God promises to give us what we need emotionally, spiritually, holistically, what we need today, and we need to rest in that.”
“Transition will reveal what our heart is confident in. Is our heart confident in our savings account? Our 401K? The righteous person isn’t fearing the unknown of the future because they’re trusting in the Lord.”
“People process and deal with change at different paces and in different ways.”
“We can learn a lot of theological concepts and store away verses for scripture memory, and they not necessarily hit us in the moment we’re learning them. But in those moments you’re storing away things in your back pocket, and there’s probably going to be a season where you’re going to need that and it’s going to hit you in a different way.”
“God does provide stability in himself in the midst of an unstable world. One day, and this is the biggest hope for Christians in the midst of everything, one day he really will bring us safely home.”
“I imagine what will be beautiful about heaven, being with God and with his people, is that there will be a mixture of adventure and security.”
“God is offering his people that sense of belonging and that sense of home in himself.”
“As much as possible, lean into community. God’s body and his people are one of his sweetest gifts to us. Don’t underestimate the power of that.”
“Do whatever it takes to get plugged into a local church as quickly as possible.”
RESOURCES
God’s Word
A local church community
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.” Psalm 112:7
“The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness, and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion's treasure.” Isaiah 33:6
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;God will help her when morning dawns... The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.” Psalm 46:1-7, 11
“As for me, I said in my prosperity, ‘I shall never be moved.’ By your favor, O Lord, you made my mountain stand strong;.” Psalm 30:6-7a
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What are some transitions you've faced in your own life?
As believers, what hope do we maintain in the midst of transition? What do we have to look forward to?
What passages of Scripture have kept you anchored in a time of uncertainty or transition?
What would it look like, in the season of life you are in, to trust God for his ‘daily bread’ rather than to fear for the days, months, and years to come?
What are you going to do or implement as a result of what you’ve learned this week?
IMPORTANT NOTE
Journeywomen interviews are intended to serve as a springboard for continued study in the context of your local church. While we carefully select guests each week, interviews do not imply Journeywomen's endorsement of all writings and positions of the interviewee or any other resources mentioned.
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