3 Spiritual Practices for Dealing with Changes in Life

Someone recently asked me, “How do you navigate times of transition? What do you do when you’re in the midst of change?” I laughed and replied, “You mean like the current state of my life right now?” And while I found the question amusing given the fluidity and upheaval of my own current life shifting, the twinge of reality sat heavy as I took a moment to exhale.

Truth is, I’m smack dab in the middle of some necessary developments. Granted, all of them initiated by yours truly. I made the choice to resign from my pastoral position for personal, professional, and theological reasons last summer. While I cherished working at Christ Community Church, I needed to take some time to process personal family matters, years of ministry work (both good and bad), and some thoughts that were ruminating around this head and heart of mine. 

After my resignation, we decided to sell our house. And even though we stayed local to our Chicagoland universe, the move was still a move. The need to make a lifestyle change and pay off some debt in order  to live without a second source of income was necessary. So, our family moved from a 3,000 square foot house to a 1,500 square foot townhouse. Let me tell you, downsizing a family of 5 (with 1 dog and 2 cats is no joke). So, to say my life was in flux last year would be an understatement.

Now we’re in 2025. A new year, new President, and a whole lot of unknowns. Here’s what I’ve come to know …

Life Changes and Transitions are Difficult

Friends, any type of transition is difficult. Period. End of Sentence. Rinse & Repeat. There are no detours to alleviate the discomfort during times of change. Unless you choose to numb or self-comfort through the pain. However, you do get to  choose how you respond to seasons of change and transition. Will you grow or regress? Will there be advances and breakthroughs in your flux or will you decline or retreat?

Honestly, I’ve experienced both failure and growth in the midst of transition. But this past year I was resolved to transition with grace and strength. It was messy and hard, but ultimately, God has used this past year to give me new eyes to see what forging ahead in faith can look like in the middle of the unknown.

Related: Surrendering to the God of Hope When All Seems Lost

Whether your current life changes are good or bad, or initiated by you or someone else, let me tell you now: it’s going to be hard. Experiencing  life changes can be stressful for our minds and bodies. Cortisone levels in our brain get out of whack, causing alerts, high adrenaline, and even “fight-or-flight” responses in our bodies. Our heart rate increases, our sleep patterns get thrown off, leading us down a very scary path if we’re not careful. The good news is, we can allow God’s truth to lead the way, show kindness to ourselves, and become better people while learning to trust God more during these times of distress.

3 Spiritual Practices for Dealing with Changes in Life

We won’t respond properly all the time. Sometimes we will  be impatient and scared. This is why it’s good to have spiritual practices to help anchor ourselves in truth and love during times of uncertainty. 

Here’s 3 things I’ve learned to help my faith rise and pursue perseverance in the midst of the changes of life:

Daily Rhythms & Spending time with God

My morning times of prayer, journaling, meditating, and reading Scripture have easily doubled lately. When I don’t take the time to spend my first waking moments with Jesus, especially now, I am easily distracted, frustrated, and influenced by things outside of my control.

But when I take the time to purposely wake up early and intentionally sit with God in his word and in prayer, I am reminded of who God is in light of my circumstances. No phone until Jesus. This is a non-negotiable. No news, social media, or emails until I spend time with the author and giver of LIFE.

Having a daily rhythm of devotional time with God reminds me that I am loved and not forgotten. I ground myself in God’s word. I breathe and pray, and all the noise in my head and my heart calms down. 

No matter what is going on in the world and in my life, I am reminded that God has a good plan for me, and cares for me. I am not alone. He is a Good Shepherd and I need to be faithful and trust him every single day. I am reminded of my eternal destination and that my treasure is in heaven. The Holy Spirit revives my spirit and fills me with joy and peace that can only come from the Lord.

Related: What Are The Spiritual Disciplines?

Walk, Worship, and Pray 

I also have a rhythm that I call Walk + Worship + Pray. 

It’s a consistent physical activity that gets my body active outside and inside. 

I walk anywhere from 2 to 6 miles and put on worship music. God and I talk, I listen, and my eyes take in the glory of creation. 

God ministers to my soul through beauty,mystery, awe, and wonder. I’m always astonished to witness the tiny miracles found in a river, trees, or the birds in the air. The world is full of life, and this places the unknown aspects of my specific circumstances in the proper place — Jesus’ hands. This gives me a fresh perspective and humbles my attitude. Usually, if I start my walk frustrated, confused, or bitter about something, I always end with a check in my spirit and immense gratitude for the gift of this life. 

Cooking, Reading, and Practicing Sabbath

I have other rhythms of cooking or baking, practicing Sabbath, reading, and writing incorporated into my  week. These spiritual practices give me solid purpose and keep my mind on a good path so I don’t get distracted or lost (which is super easy to do during times of change). Planning my calendar and meal prepping on Sundays calms my brain and prepares me to navigate expected goals and challenges.

Meeting Regularly With A Wise Therapist 

Over the years, I’ve learned how helpful a good, educated, and wise therapist can be for our  lives. Unaddressed traumas usually rise to the surface during times of transition.  Memories, flashbacks, old nightmares, or behaviors seem to come back with a vengeance and once again, I feel like 13-year-old Jen. Which is not a good thing.

Friends, finding a trusted counselor or therapist is a gift.  You don’t have to feel guilt or shame in seeking professional help. Finding a safe place to process all the chaos going on inside of your body is hard work, but also  well worth the fruit it produces. Professionals with helpful outside perspectives can bring a whole new perspective  to help you live within your window of tolerance. 

Therapy can provide a rich treasure of tools, self-care, self-discovery, and reflective practices to help you recognize any sort of patterns or behaviors that are robbing you of living out your best self. Reading Try Softer, How the Body Keeps the Score and other mental health resources has been immensely helpful during my time of change and transition. 

Prioritizing Rest When Dealing with Change

It’s no secret that going through times of change and transition can be taxing on your mind and body. The mental and physical strength required to deal with change is enormous. Res provides clarity of vision, recuperation, and vitality to your tender soul that is navigating so much!

A Good Sleep Schedule 

A good sleep schedule is also essential! Part of my regular rhythm is an evening plan to dim lights and noise, light some candles, and ensure  I’m in bed by 9 pm so I can  get at least 8 hours of sleep. In fact, our family has a list of nightly activities to help our girls get their minds and bodies ready for bed. Your circadian rhythm is the physical, mental, and behavioral activities that you need to ensure a healthy sleep and wake pattern. So, good rest isn’t just about sleep but finding wholistic activities to nourish you and get your mind off from what is burdening  you so that you can tackle what you need to the next day with energy and clarity. 

Related: How to Slow Down and Cultivate a Restful Heart

Limit Screen Time

We limit screen time and play games with the family; I pick up a fun book or look up a new recipe I think will be good and fun. Baking bread (bagels, breadsticks, cinnamon rolls) is my newfound love language. Not only does it engage creative parts of my brain, but it ends up being a huge blessing to my family who loves the smell of freshly baked aromas in our house. What we eat, what time we wake up, when we nap, how we exercise, and how much screen time we limit is all part of our rest equation. 

Sabbath & Worship

And my favorite: Sabbath. On Sunday, we disconnect and come together for worship, food, and practices that unite and heal our minds, bodies, and give God the glory and praise he alone deserves.

I don’t know what type of transition you find yourself in, but I do know that we can engage the changes in our lives with grace and strength. Implementing these strategies will help give you focus and a plan while you wade through the unknown season of your life. And when it’s all said and done, I hope you can find yourself closer to God than you ever knew before: stronger, braver, and filled with faith that God is able to do what you never thought possible before. To Him who alone is able!