Homemaking When You Are In A Season of Transition
Life is full of surprises, especially when you’ve surrendered yourself in reckless abandon to the will of God. Right now, I find myself in another one of those in-between seasons. We moved to Texas four months ago and signed a one-year lease. The house was partially furnished, so we came with very little.
These seasons are some of the hardest for me because they feel temporary. I know this house isn’t mine to make fully “homey,” and it’s hard to find rhythm when everything feels borrowed. Some days I go to grab something I need—only to realize we didn’t bring it with us. Then comes the question: do I repurchase it or just go without for a while? Sigh.
If you’ve ever been there, you know how unsettling these transitions can be. But even in the waiting, I’ve learned that homemaking doesn’t stop—it simply looks different. Here are three things I do to stay positive and grounded in my homemaking during seasons of transition.
1. Focus on Gratitude and Contentment
Seasons of transition—especially the temporary ones—are invitations to learn contentment and practice gratitude. There is always something to be thankful for. While I look at the mattress on the floor without a bedframe, or the boxes stacked in the corner that feel pointless to unpack, I remind myself how grateful I am that the kids’ rooms were completely furnished when we moved in. I’m thankful the owners left couches for us to gather on in the evenings. I’m deeply grateful that God worked it out for us to have a home that fits us all comfortably—and I lack no good thing.
Learning to be content starts with gratitude. It’s nearly impossible to feel content when you’re focused on what you don’t have or how much you dislike your circumstances. Paul said, “In all things, I have learned to be content…” That word learned implies contentment doesn’t come naturally—it’s something we have to practice.
Whether I’m cooking in a kitchen that’s missing many of my favorite tools or cleaning a house that doesn’t quite match my aesthetic, I have to choose to focus on what I do have and what I do love. God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly, so I can rest knowing that in this season, I already have everything I need.
2. Don’t Worry—Seek First the Kingdom
When I first got saved and didn’t know many Bible references, I woke up from a dream one morning and said to my husband, “What does Matthew 6:33 say?” I had been dreaming of that reference all night. When I looked it up, it said:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
I thought it was strange at the time—but okay! Little did I know, that verse would become a sort of mantra in my life. Over the next ten years, I would move around the country again and again. I wouldn’t have a home that felt permanent or secure. I would have to learn to live with open hands, ready to pack up the essentials and leave everything else behind.
Just a few verses earlier, Jesus says:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life—what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” — Matthew 6:25
That whole section, Matthew 6:25–34, is about not worrying. God knows what we need. He will call us into uncomfortable seasons—sometimes into uncertainty, sometimes into waiting—but He promises to take care of us.
Even if He doesn’t call you to move across the country every other year, He might ask you to give up spending for a while, to trust Him in a rental, or to live with other people for a season. Whatever the case, God tells us not to worry about our life—what we’ll eat, drink, wear, or where we’ll live. He knows our needs even when it feels like He doesn’t see them.
God called Abraham out into a land he didn’t know, and yet He provided everything along the way. There were famines, conflicts, and long seasons of wandering—but through it all, God provided. (Jehovah Jireh—the Lord will provide.)
When we seek God first in seasons of transition, waiting, and longing, we align our hearts with His. Worry fades, and trust grows.
As I sit here, in my current season of unknown, I can see more clearly than ever before God’s faithfulness in providing for us. Not because He didn’t show it clearly in the past, but because He did! He has always been so faithful that my trust has grown so much. I have grown and matured in my faith, and I see His hand in everything. I used to be focused on how I could change my circumstances, and now I pray about how I can grow through the seasons of waiting. Wherever you find yourself waiting, pray to see God in the daily details.
3. Create Rhythms as Quickly as Possible
There can be so much excitement in transitioning from one season of life to the next. Your spouse gets a new job, you find out you’re pregnant, or you decide to leave the workforce to stay home with your babies. In those early moments, you’re full of anticipation—you can’t wait for this next chapter to begin.
But then reality sets in. Schedules clash, nights get long, and the excitement starts to wear off. You realize that when you worked, someone created your schedule for you—but now, at home, you have to create it yourself. You look around at your children, your unpacked boxes, and the endless list of to-dos, and you wonder where to even begin.
For me, every time we move, I find myself unpacking as quickly as possible so I can start creating daily rhythms for myself and my family. It helps us return to a sense of normalcy, even in unfamiliar surroundings. But creating new rhythms takes effort—finding new libraries, sports facilities, grocery stores, and adjusting to my husband’s new work schedule.
When the excitement of transition fades, it’s important to intentionally build new routines so you don’t spiral into chaos. Without them, the days blur together, and the negativity can easily take over.
For example, I start by setting small anchors for our day: morning devotions and breakfast together, school or chores before lunch, and a walk or quiet time in the afternoon. These simple rhythms bring order, peace, and familiarity back into our days.
This rhythm-making reminds me of God’s instruction to His people during exile:
“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters… seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.” — Jeremiah 29:5–7
Even though Israel was in an unfamiliar place, God told them to live fully where they were. To plant, build, and nurture life—even in the waiting. That’s what rhythms do for us in our own seasons of transition. They help us live faithfully and fruitfully right where God has placed us.
Creating rhythms is more than just organizing time—it’s cultivating stability in the midst of change. It’s an act of faith that says, “Even here, God is with us, and life can still flourish.”
Homemaking in a season of transition isn’t about having the perfect space or everything in its place; it’s about creating peace, gratitude, and order wherever God calls you. When we choose contentment over complaint, trust over worry, and rhythm over chaos, we invite God’s presence into the ordinary moments of our days.
These seasons teach us that home isn’t defined by walls or décor—it’s defined by the posture of our hearts. Whether you’re unpacking boxes, searching for a new routine, or learning to rest in the unknown, remember: God is the constant in every change. He’s the same faithful provider who gave manna in the wilderness, peace in exile, and purpose in waiting. We are being refined, strengthened, and made holy in these seasons of waiting.
So wherever you find yourself, half settled, half uncertain, keep seeking Him. Build, plant, and dwell faithfully right where you are. Because even in transition, life with God can still flourish.
If you’re walking through your own season of transition, I’d love to hear from you. How are you choosing gratitude, trust, or rhythm in this chapter of life? Share your story in the comments below or tag me on Instagram @harder.knocks — let’s encourage one another to keep building homes of faith, no matter where God leads us.
