Day 28- The “In-Between”
On day 27, we learned that God is the great “I AM,” and our compassionate Shepherd. For those who have walked the Faith Journey with The Lord for any length of time, you have experienced change, right?! While our God never changes, He will ask us to move in a different direction for His purposes. I also laid out things He will NEVER ask us to do. Anything that is contrary to God’s Word or His character is not His will for our lives. Daily, we must choose to not live by our feelings or emotions, but instead live by faith in obedience to our Savior and Lord.
Today, let’s focus on the waiting or the “in-between” of our Faith Journey. We have become a society of instant gratification; drive trough windows, microwaves and insta-pots, the internet, steaming movies, binge-watching tv shows, ebooks and same day shipping. Our culture is not prone to having waiting for anything. When we want something, we want it now. However, God is not limited to time and especially not our timeframe.
I have witnessed others do this and even done it myself… gotten ahead of God because of impatience. Our “in-between” seasons are necessary for The Lord to move us on to what He has planned next. In his book, Unanswered, Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston termed these seasons of waiting as “God ‘s waiting room” or the “silence of God.” Often times while in God’s waiting room, We feel as if our prayers are hitting the ceiling and coming back down into a crumbled mess on the floor.
As the Master Dot-Connector, our God is orchestrating big scale, mind-blowing, life altering circumstances. Often that means a period of time in the “in-between.” We have read about King David and the 15 years ‘in-between’ his anointing as King and when he actually took the throne. The Psalms are filled with heart-tugging cries of David’s desperation. He had an overwhelming need to hear from God in his most difficult seasons. Abraham was stuck in the ‘in-between’ for 25 years waiting for the promise to be fulfilled for a son. Then, consider those who lived during the Intertestamental Period, the ‘in-between’ of the Old and New Testaments. These individuals waited an unfathomable 400 years without hearing the voice of God.
“As we study the account of Abraham and Sarah, we see that God had much bigger and better plans for and through them than they could even “conceive.” They desired a child. God wanted to start a faith movement. They were thinking about the continuance of their family line. God was thinking about the messianic line of Jesus. They were worried about not having an heir. God’s concern was for the salvation of all mankind (Gal. 3:29, Titus 3:7, Jas. 2:5).” Â Â Â Â –Â Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston, “Unanswered”
Yep…Wow! God is about the big picture…we can’t even comprehend the enormity of all He is doing. Our hopes and dreams are finite. God is infinite. The fact that we are still discussing Abraham and Sarah thousands of years after their lives on earth ended, is testament to the far-reaching, all-encompassing mind, and miraculous works of The Almighty.
Seasons of silence are not uncommon in God’s economy. God’s silence may be due to our sin of disobedience. At other times, God’s silence is Him saying…”wait, not yet, or I’ve got something bigger in mind.” Becoming a mature follower of Christ means learning to discern the difference between the two (discipline or seasons of in-between) through scripture, prayer, and  introspection.
- Read Psalm 46
Who is our help in the midst of trouble?
Why does the Psalmist instruct us to do even when the earth changes, mountains collapse, and waters roar (vs. 2-3)?
Do not fear! Come what may…do not fear!
- Write verse 10:
Stop striving…Stop warring… Stop protesting. Be still…acknowledge His Sovereignty in all things, through all things, and in all things.
My household is always loud. With three men afoot, there is always a bustle of activity and technology swirling around me. But, in the wee hours of the morning when I wake to have time with Jesus and take in my anointed java juice, it’s completely quiet, peaceful, and soothing. It’s in the quiet that Jesus calms my soul and wraps me in His love. He draws me into conversation through prayer, and affirms His trustworthiness through Scripture.
Seasons of God’s silence do not change His attributes, care, or love. He is the same yesterday today, and forever more. When we can not understand His plan, we must hold onto His promises and trust His never-changing heart.
When you and I get discouraged in our own ‘in-between’ times, we must wait. We must rely on what we know to be true about God. Do not move ahead. If the door is not yet open, don’t force it open. If the door remains closed, wait for another to open.
Pray always…without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Even when you feel God is not listening…He is. He sees you. Keep in mind the vastness of God’s mighty working power. He will never fail you.
Oh my friends, take time to be quiet before The Lord…to really be still and quiet in His presence. Let Him cover you with His love. You are beautiful and loved by the One who created you. Never doubt that one bit. I’m praying for you!
To learn more about Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston’s ministry or order his book, “Unanswered,” visit:
