Refined Through the PainSample

Rest In The In-Between

Maybe the very places and interims

You want out of –

Is the exact place,

God wants to

Intimately be with you.

So, though the wait may feel long,

And the darkness looms over,

There is still light where you are and

His light always prevails.

~

Comfortable. Predictable. Secure.

These are the words we often find comfort in. But when we are in the in-between it can feel anything but.

The hallway of transition.

The silence in the waiting room.

The interim.

The beginning and the end are exciting, but then the interim comes around and the hallway seems longer, darker or more difficult than you imagined it would be when you first embarked on the journey.

You begin to doubt the decisions you made. Question what you heard from the Lord. Run away or even despise this very place.

It's hard to walk through and can be rather exhausting. Weariness creeps up and fear of the unknown can have a lingering effect on us.

This is why the stance that we take in the in-between is crucial.

Maybe you don’t need a sign to get out, or escape the pressure of it all,

As much as you need to lean into the Way Maker Himself.

And recall the words He has spoken over you.

We can have peace in the middle of everything, and can rest assured that God is in the hallway with us when we stay close to the Lord.

"My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." - Exodus 33:14

The word 'rest' can mean waiting, or to simply stay put as a reminder that God is with you in Every. Single. Situation. Even the one you’re in, right this very moment.

When we choose to trust God in the in-between, we will be like "an olive tree flourishing in the house of the Lord," enjoying His protection and flourishing care forever. (Psalm 52:8-9)

So, don't lose heart in the in-between. Trust that the Lord has something for you. Because there is something He is doing within you; someday, you will look back and say "THAT is what that was about."

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to rest in Your sovereignty and run to You instead of away from You, as I find myself in the middle. Today, I choose to fix my eyes on You in this season, even though I’m still waiting on the answers, because I know that You can make something new out of me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection:

In what ways do you see God creating intimate moments with you?

Ask the Holy Spirit, “In what ways should I unplug this week, to create space to rest in You?"