**In C.S. Lewis’s *The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe*, Aslan tells Lucy, *“Things never happen the same way twice.”*** 

It’s a good reminder that life brings changes. They’re unavoidable, but how we choose to meet them is up to us. We can look to *[The Chronicles of Narnia](https://www.cslewis.com/us/books/?collection=narnia&id=745173)* for insights on managing life’s changes.

Most of us are familiar with C.S. Lewis's profound allegory for the life of Christ. Aslan the Lion represents Christ, of course. In the above quote, Aslan comforts little Lucy Pevensie about the changes and challenges she and her siblings are facing.

**The Inevitability of Change**

We face many changes as well, even just through the calendar year. For example, summer is a time when we look ahead to the school year. Even if we no longer have kids in school, we often make plans that mirror an August-to-May school calendar.

Whether you have a child entering kindergarten or a rising senior anticipating graduation, you’re planning a move, or dealing with aging parents, financial decisions are embedded in every life transition. Our friend [Mitch Anthony](https://www.mitchanthony.com/about/) likes to say, *“Money goes into motion when life goes into transition.”* It’s easy to remember, but often hard to manage.

**Five Ways to Meet and Manage Change**

- **Pray for wisdom.**  New seasons require new wisdom. There are two ways to learn in a new season: through pain or wisdom.  We probably all remember lessons learned through the painful consequences of a poor decision in our teenage years.  We discovered that pain is a costly way to learn. So let’s choose wisdom!
- **Seek godly counsel.** For example, if your oldest child is going to enter college this fall, what can you learn from other parents who have college graduates? What do they wish they had done differently? What did they do well that they would repeat? 
- **Determine financial decisions** that will accompany this life transition. Staying with the college student example, you’ve probably planned for paying basic college expenses, but have you discussed what living expenses your child will be responsible for? Will they have a part-time job? Will you provide a monthly stipend (I like to call it that!) for them to manage? Bottom line: What will you provide, and what do you expect them to provide?
- **Decide ahead of time** what you will do when— or if— the child calls home to say they are out of money. Do you have an emergency fund ready for that?
- **Communicate your financial decisions** now before the transition is complete. When it’s a child going to college or some other life transition, be sure that you’ve clearly communicated what they are responsible for. If it’s a move, have you clearly communicated with the realtor? The more we communicate our financial decisions, the more accountability we have to stick with them in the midst of life's transitions.

**Stewardship in Every Season**

I’ve found that all five of these strategies are essential for staying grounded during transitions. Whether it’s welcoming a new child into your home, preparing financially for a child going off to college, or moving to a new location, taking the time now to lay the foundation will save a lot of stress later on.

And when we really stop to think about it, planning ahead isn’t just a practical choice. As followers of Christ, we’re called to be good stewards of everything He’s entrusted to us—our time, our money, our opportunities. 

**Transitions don’t come the same way twice (as Aslan points out!)—but the God who walks with us through each season never changes. So when we prepare now—with prayer, purpose, and faith—we’re not just getting ready for what’s coming. We’re taking an act of trust in our unchanging God.**

FaithFi

Articles

This is a good reminder that life brings changes. They’re unavoidable, but how we choose to meet them is up to us.

VERSES | Jul 7, 2025

Planning for What’s Next: Faithful Stewardship in Seasons of Change

By: Sharon Epps

Where Faith Meets Finance

You May Also Like