Railroad crossings have the potential to be incredibly dangerous. Without the warnings of flashing lights and alarms, severe dilemmas could occur. The same can be said about our lives. Guardrails are in place to keep us safe and out of harm’s way.

I heard a message while I was attending Bible college that has stuck with me for years. It was on the topic of transitions. Transitions are known as times of change. They are the interludes of moving from one place to another.

When you are a child, you do not remain a child. From birth, you embark on a journey of evolving slowly and surely from infant to toddler, to child, teenager, then on to adulthood and eventually back to Glory. These periods of growth take time, but they are necessary. Without the proper rearing and instruction, these stretches can make or break a person. We need people to help us on our journeys from who we are, to what we are becoming.

If you have ever watched a fairy-tale or have visited a historic castle, you would see that walled cities and significant settings are most vulnerable at their gates. Their point of transition- the place where one crosses from the outside to new territory is protected because what comes close may not always be what belongs. For this reason, they are heavily guarded.

Good things are coming, friends. Please do not give up, and please fortify your life. Perhaps you feel as though you are on the precipice of moving to another level. You will face opposition to get there. Please, use extra caution as you go.

Similar to railroad crossings and castle gates, we too can find safety and growth in healthy manners. Here are some suggestions from a fellow traveler to help you stay on the right track as you get to where you are going.

1. Stay accountable and submitted to Godly leadership.
   • The leadership in your life is there to protect you and guide you along the right path. You may not always agree with them, but they love you and want what is best for your life.
2. Guard. Your. Heart.
   • Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)
3. Be careful who you associate yourself with and who you allow to influence you.
   • Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
   • Be careful who and what you allow close.
4. Take an inventory of how you spend your time and what you listen to and watch.
5. Establish a walk with God for yourself.

During seasons of change, you will be tempted to throw in the towel and follow a life of ease, but please, stay the course. There is nothing worth losing your soul over. Those times of transition are when you can be the most impressionable. If you feel like you are on the verge of breaking down, there is a good chance you are right at the threshold of something new. Be careful at crossings.

Rachel is a lover of travel, nachos, and the gospel. She is a graduate of Urshan College and will most likely always call it Gateway. She recently graduated with her master’s degree in counseling and human services and is currently serving at The Pentecostals of Cooper City in South Florida.