In-Between

February 7, 2018:

“Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” – Psalm 25:5

Patience is not something that comes natural to me, not even in the slightest. I understand the concept of it and how it should work, but actually producing patience in my life is extremely difficult. As a result, I often view my life as many seasons of “in-betweens.” Whether it’s in-between events, in-between opportunities, in-between trips, or even just in-between meals, I am constantly looking for what comes next and not so patiently waiting for it. Currently I am in what is probably the biggest “in-between” of my entire life. I’m living in America, working at my church, and trying to teach myself a language; however, I’m waiting to quit my job at church, move to Japan, and leave my family for 24 months. Each of those things from learning a language to leaving my family for 2 years is such a polar opposite from the other that I’m not sure how to be patient during the middle of the two extremes.

Yet, God in His infinite grace is molding me every single second of every single day into the image of His son. This takes lots of work for Him as He is slowly removing things that have hindered me, such as sins and selfish worldly desires, from coming closer to Him. While this seems like a process that we all should desire as Children of God, it is much more painful and raw in reality than it is on paper. When the God of all creation steps into someone’s heart and begins to tear sinful desires, selfish motives, and apathetic feelings out, everything within their flesh cries out against that process. However, the Spirit that lives in me fights just as hard against my flesh and if there is one thing that I am confident in, it is that His Spirit will always win against my flesh however painful the fight may be. The “in-between” that I find myself in every day lately, is becoming sweeter and more Holy. Because, God is teaching me that my entire life on this earth is an in-between moment. I’m in between my first breath, and what my spirit and soul were actually created for: eternal communion within the Glorious Grace of the Father.

My salvation comes from Him and the waiting is the sweetest part of that, because I know exactly what I’m waiting for and that is HIM. What happens next in this realm is just a stepping stone on the narrow road that ends in worship at His feet and that is such a beautiful hope to have. So my “in-between” is becoming a place where God is teaching me patience and giving me hope for what is to come.