Necessary Endings, New Beginnings: When God Moves You Forward
- The Path
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
There’s something sacred about a moment when you know things will never be the same.
It might be a move to a new city, the loss of a job, the birth of a child, or the quiet end of a friendship. Sometimes these moments are celebrated with balloons and applause. Other times they come with silence and tears. But either way, they mark the end of what was—and the beginning of what’s next.
We don’t always choose the endings. And truthfully, we rarely feel ready for the new beginnings. But God meets us in both.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die… a time to tear down and a time to build.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
Scripture makes it clear—seasons are a part of God's rhythm for our lives. He doesn't waste the endings. He uses them to shape our identity, to redirect our focus, and to grow us into people who look more like Jesus.
Bittersweet Seasons
Have you ever tried to describe a moment as “bittersweet”? The taste is hard to explain. Something is ending… but something else is beginning. It feels like loss and hope are sitting in the same room, holding hands.
That's the space God loves to work in. He doesn't just bring us out of something; He leads us into something better.
Think of the Israelites. For over 400 years, they were enslaved in Egypt. But God had something new in store. He used Moses to lead them out of bondage, not just so they’d be free—but so they could walk into the land He had promised them.
Still, even with freedom in front of them, they hesitated. They longed for what was familiar, even if it wasn’t good. It’s human nature to cling to what we know—even when it no longer fits us.
God understands that. That’s why He walks with us through the in-between—the space between letting go and stepping forward.
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:18-19
This new thing God is doing—it requires vision. It requires trust. It requires releasing what’s behind, even when it’s hard.
What God Ends, He Redeems
Sometimes we experience an ending we didn’t see coming. The job ends. The relationship ends. The opportunity fades. But in hindsight, we see how God protected us. How He opened a new door. How He made us braver, stronger, and more dependent on Him.
Jesus Himself said that His departure was necessary in order for something greater to come:
“But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you.” — John 16:7
Even Jesus taught that goodbyes can be gateways. The Holy Spirit couldn’t come until Jesus left. What felt like loss was actually the setup for deeper intimacy with God.
That’s what necessary endings are: setups for a Spirit-led future.
God’s Still Writing Your Story
If you're walking through a transition right now, take heart: God is with you. The page may be turning, but the Author is still present.
Don’t rush the process. Grieve if you need to. Celebrate when you can. But most of all—trust the One who knows what’s next.
He is the God of necessary endings. And He is also the God of new beginnings.
