You're Not Too Lateنموونە

LIVING IN THE IN-BETWEEN

Longing marks every season of our lives until we reach heaven. We find ourselves waiting for more of one thing, less of another, better of something else.

The truth is, you and I are living between two Edens. God created us to live in perfect fellowship with him in the garden of Eden (Genesis 1–3). After the fall, when sin entered the picture, we began to see and experience the effects of a broken world. Yet we have great hope that—although we find ourselves bumping into brokenness at every turn—one day we will experience perfect fellowship with God when he restores all things and wipes every tear from our eyes. Revelation 21:4 tells us that one day “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.”

But how do we make sense of this in-between time? Maybe you want to trust God, but you find yourself slipping back into old patterns of thinking. Maybe you’re at the end of yourself, weary from disappointing circumstances or the tight grip you hold on your expectations for what your life would look like.

Can I let you in on a secret? You’re not too late for the life God has for you. Sometimes our spiritual Enemy tricks us into believing that God is playing some sort of cosmic game with us. We start to buy into the world’s lie and think that we need to check the right boxes, do the right things, and then we will finally get what we really want in life. Our culture whispers, Then you’ll be happy.

But the truth is, getting the thing you want still wouldn’t be enough. Because only God can satisfy our deepest longings—and there is a great purpose exactly where God has placed your feet right now.

Your tears are not in vain. God sees every single one (Psalm 56:8) and is well acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3). And you are not too late. You are on God’s watch, and he is asking you to open your hands in surrender as you lay your desires in his trustworthy arms.

Lord, help me walk faithfully in the life you have given me today, believing that your purpose is being fulfilled even in this in-between place. Amen.