“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

ECCLESIASTES 3:1 (NIV)

Early morning drives when the air is cool and the sun begins to stretch across the horizon, brings me such joy. It feels just as good when the road is open and the city is quiet because there is no traffic. These are the kind of drives when I think the most: no music, no distractions, just me and my thoughts moving with the car. That morning, my mind wandered to the people in my life and how much that circle had changed over the years.

There are times in life when the people you thought would always be close to you begin to drift. I used to take it personally. I would sit and wonder what I did wrong or replay conversations in my head, searching for the reason why the relationship felt different. But the older I get, the more I realize that distance doesn’t always mean rejection. Sometimes it’s God’s way of reshaping your circle. Sometimes it’s life creating space for the next chapter you’re meant to walk into.

I remember a season when I was stepping into new opportunities and trying to stay focused on where I was headed. During that time, some of the relationships I counted on the most began to shift. At first, it hurt. I questioned myself and the choices I was making. But eventually, I realized those relationships had run their course. The truth is, not everyone can go with you into every season of life. Some people are only assigned to you for a chapter, not the whole story.

If you’ve ever felt that distance—when someone steps back and you don’t understand why—try not to rush to fill the space. Sometimes the silence between you and another person isn’t punishment; it’s preparation. It’s clearing room for growth. It’s making way for what’s next.

That shift taught me to stop panicking when people stepped back. Instead, I began to see it as a sign that something new is forming. I have to accept that the circle around me might not look the same tomorrow as it did yesterday, and that’s okay. Because the right people—the ones meant for your journey—will always meet you in the right season.

Sometimes the empty space around you is the very thing building the strength inside you.

Not everyone is meant for every season. Trust who stays and release who leaves.

Keep moving forward,

Dr. Key