When God Goes Before You: Trusting the Shift You Didn’t See Coming

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

— Deuteronomy 31:8

A year ago, I stepped into a temporary season—one I knew wouldn’t last forever. I had a sense it was only meant to be for a time. I didn’t know what would come next or how, but I had peace that God would make a way when the time came.

And suddenly, the time came.

The transition happened quickly and unexpectedly. What I thought I’d have more time to prepare for; I had to step into with little warning. But here’s what amazed me: God had already gone before me. Before I even knew change was coming, the details were taken care of. A space was already made available. The location was already aligned. And the place my heart was beginning to grow familiar with? It was time to let go.

I wasn’t fully comfortable where I was, but I was starting to settle in. I was starting to adapt. I was beginning to know the rhythm of things, to find small comfort in the routine. And right there, at the edge of familiarity; God began to stir things up again.

He reminded me that this life is seasonal. That comfort isn’t the goal—obedience is. That we are often moved not because something’s wrong, but because there’s something greater ahead.

If this had happened in a previous season, I would have panicked. I don’t naturally do well with sudden change. I’m a planner, someone who needs to process things deeply. But something is different this time. Something in me has changed.

Perhaps it’s maturity.

Maybe it’s spiritual growth.

Maybe it’s the evidence of grace doing it’s quiet steady work in my heart.

God has been giving me endurance for transitions. Peace in the stretching. Strength for the letting go. And clarity that even when I feel unsettled, I am not unprotected.

This is what Deuteronomy 31:8 means to me right now:

“The Lord himself goes before you…” — He sees what’s ahead, even when you don’t.

“…and will be with you…” — He walks with you into the unknown.

“…He will never leave you nor forsake you…” — He won’t abandon you mid-transition.

Sometimes we think if God is in it, everything will feel steady. But I’m learning that God can be fully in something and still allow it to move.

Every shift is part of the bigger story. Every letting go is leading to something greater.

So if you’re in a place where everything feels like it’s changing and you didn’t see it coming, I want to encourage you:

God is not surprised. He’s already prepared what you haven’t yet seen.

This is just a transition, not the end.

This is movement, not punishment.

This is purpose, not chaos.

You may feel uprooted, but you are still in His hands.

You may feel unsure, but you are not alone.

You may feel like things are shifting too fast, but nothing escapes His timing.

“Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. The Lord himself goes before you.”

— Deuteronomy 31:8

And that’s enough for me to take the next step — even without knowing all the details.