Weathering Life’s Storms: Embracing Endings and New Beginnings
By Lucy Kyllonen
Life is full of transitions, both expected and unexpected, and as leaders, we often face these transitions in deeply personal and professional ways. Just recently, here in the Tampa Bay area, Hurricane Milton reminded us of the power of the unexpected. It uprooted our plans, forced us to pause, and left us to navigate the aftermath of its disruption.
Hurricane Milton may have been a literal storm, but in leadership, we often face figurative storms—whether it’s making a ministry or career change, ending a relationship, or letting go of a staff member. These are the "necessary endings" that Dr. Henry Cloud speaks of in his book, Necessary Endings. They aren’t easy, but they are essential for growth. And often, they bring us into that uncomfortable space—the in-between. The period where one chapter has ended, but the next hasn’t yet begun.
How do we lead through these storms? How do we pivot in seasons of transition, trusting that God is at work even when the path forward is unclear?
Embracing Necessary Endings
“Without the ability to end things, people stay stuck, never becoming who they are meant to be,” writes Henry Cloud. These words ring true, especially in leadership. Many of us may know deep down that something in our life—whether a relationship, job, or ministry—is no longer serving its purpose, yet we resist the ending.
Hurricane Milton disrupted routines and caused many to rethink their plans. Similarly, life’s transitions often force us to face changes we would rather avoid. As women, we are especially prone to holding on, hoping for a fairytale ending or a happily-ever-after scenario. But endings aren’t failures—they are part of God’s process of renewal and growth.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Some things need to end so that new life can emerge. In leadership, this might mean letting go of a vision that no longer aligns with God’s will, saying goodbye to a staff member who isn’t growing, or stepping away from a role that has run its course.
Leading in the In-Between
If endings are hard, the in-between is often harder. It’s the space between Point A and Point B, the time between when one chapter ends and the next begins. It’s filled with uncertainty, doubt, and sometimes fear. As leaders, we know how challenging it is to wait in this space. You may have experienced this kind of waiting after Hurricane Milton, wondering when life would return to normal, or waiting for the power to be restored.
Biblical figures knew this waiting all too well. Abraham waited almost 25 years for the birth of his son Isaac. Joseph waited 13 years to reunite with his family. Moses waited 40 years in the desert for God’s next instructions. Waiting in the in-between is a common experience for God’s people.
But the in-between is not wasted time. God often uses these seasons of waiting to do something greater in us. It’s in this space that we grow, reflect, and prepare for what’s to come. So, how do we lead through these in-between times? How do we wait well?
Wait with Hope: Our waiting is not in vain. We serve a God who is faithful, and His plans for us are good (Jeremiah 29:11). We can wait with the confident hope that God is working, even when we can’t see it yet.
Spend Time Alone with God: Seasons of waiting are an invitation to draw closer to God. As leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in doing, but the in-between is a time to rest in His presence and listen for His voice.
Expect Something New: Waiting isn’t just about sitting idly by. It’s about positioning yourself to expect God to move. Stay alert to signs of new life and opportunities that may arise.
Overcome Fear: Fear can paralyze us in the in-between. But rising up as a leader means pushing through fear, trusting that God is with us every step of the way.
The Blessing of In-Between Times
In my own life, I’ve experienced in-between times that lasted longer than I anticipated. Sometimes these seasons stretched on for months or even years. But what I’ve learned is that these periods of waiting are as much a part of God’s plan as the seasons of action. They are opportunities for growth, for deepening our relationship with God, and for preparing for the new thing He is about to do.
Just as God told the Israelites in Babylon to “build homes, and plan to stay” (Jeremiah 29:5), we, too, are called to be present and productive even in our waiting. Don’t waste the in-between time. It’s part of God’s will for your life.
Leading Through Endings and New Beginnings
As leaders, one of our greatest responsibilities is to help others navigate endings and transitions well. Endings are inevitable, but how we approach them can make all the difference. It’s easy to resist change, to hold on to what’s familiar, and to view endings as failures. But if we can learn to embrace endings, to see them as a necessary part of growth, we can lead ourselves and others into new seasons with grace.
Learn to Discern the Need for Endings: Not every problem is meant to be solved. Some things need to end so that new life can grow. As leaders, we must be discerning, knowing when it’s time to let go and move on.
Embrace Endings: We often view endings as failures, but they are not. They are simply the conclusion of one chapter and the beginning of another. When we embrace endings, we make space for new beginnings.
Cross Over into New Seasons: Seasons change in God’s timing, not ours. We can’t control when they start or end, but we can trust that God is with us in every season, guiding us into the future He has planned.
Pivoting After the Storm
Hurricane Milton left a mark on our community, but it also offered us a powerful reminder that change is inevitable. Whether it’s a literal storm or the storms of life, we will all face transitions. The question is, how will we respond? Will we cling to what’s familiar, or will we trust God in the in-between, allowing Him to lead us into something new?
As women, as leaders, and as cherished daughters of the Most High we are called to lead through these storms with resilience and grace. We are called to embrace necessary endings, to trust God in the waiting, and to rise up when the time comes to step into new beginnings.
No matter where you are right now—whether you’re in a season of waiting, just coming through a storm, or standing on the edge of a new beginning—know that God is with you. He is your firm foundation, and He has a plan for you that is good. Trust Him, and let Him lead you through the in-between times, into the future He has prepared for you.
As you consider your own life, are there places where God might be calling you to let go or make room for something new? Take a moment to ask yourself: What season am I in, and how might God be inviting me to trust Him in the in-between?
