Life is full of seasons. Some arrive with excitement—new opportunities, relationships, or open doors. Others come quietly and unexpectedly, like the slow drift of autumn into winter. Jobs end. Children grow and leave. Friendships change. The ministry or work that once felt vibrant can suddenly feel like yesterday’s assignment.
In those moments, even the strongest believer can lie awake wondering, Am I still useful to God? Has my best season passed? Did I somehow miss His plan?
If you’ve felt that tug of uncertainty, you are not alone. God knew we would face it, and He gave us promises that cut through the fog of doubt:
Psalm 138:8 (NIV) — “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands.”
Philippians 1:4-6 (NIV) — “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
These verses remind us of something crucial: the work of God in your life is not tied to a particular season. His purpose is larger than any single role or assignment. The same Lord who began His good work in you will not quit when circumstances shift or when your energy feels thin. He finishes what He starts.
Consider Joseph’s story in Genesis. As a young man, God gave him dreams of future influence. But before those dreams were fulfilled, he was betrayed by his brothers, sold as a slave, and falsely accused and imprisoned. Years passed in uncertainty—years when it would have been easy to believe that God’s plan had been lost. Yet when Joseph finally stood as second in command of Egypt and saved nations from famine, he declared, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done” (Genesis 50:20, NIV). What looked like detours were actually the very path God used to complete His purpose.
I have lived long enough to see how God reshapes our calling over time. Early in my walk with Christ, I led a simple men’s Bible group. Later came pastoring, a Bible school, and eventually writing Fresh Manna—devotionals now read in nearly every nation. Each chapter looked different, but the Author was the same. Even today, after decades of ministry, I sometimes sense the gentle uncertainty of change and wonder, Lord, what’s next? Am I still bearing fruit? God’s answer is consistent: “I’m not finished. Trust Me.”
So how do we respond when the familiar fades and the future feels uncertain?
1. Grieve what is changing, but keep your eyes on the unchanging One. It’s natural to feel the loss of a closed door or a role that has come to an end. Bring that ache to God in honest prayer. His enduring love (Psalm 138:8) is the constant through every transition.
2. Revisit His past faithfulness. Look back over the seasons of your life and name the times He has guided you. Joseph’s journey reminds us that even long stretches of waiting can be part of God’s perfect plan. The One who began the work then is still carrying it forward now.
3. Stay open to new assignments. Sometimes God uses a season of uncertainty to prepare you for a fresh work—perhaps quieter, perhaps more hidden, but no less important. Ask Him each day, “Lord, what is today’s step of obedience?” and take it, even if it seems small. Change will come. Roles will shift. But the calling of God is not a single job description; it is a lifelong partnership with the One who will carry His work to completion.
So when doubts whisper that you’ve missed your moment or that your influence is over, answer with the certainty of scripture: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that Your love endures forever and that You will never abandon the work of Your hands. Teach me to trust You in every season of change. Help me remember Your past faithfulness—just as You were faithful to Joseph—welcome Your present guidance, and walk confidently toward the future You are shaping—in Jesus’ name, Amen!
