We find ourselves in the middle when nothing is as it seems but everything is how it should be.
If life looks like a blank canvas and clarity is lost, we are in the middle.
When we seek to know what’s next and the answers do not come, life is in the middle.
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Living in a place of waiting gets a bad rap. Our days fill with frustration, uncertainty, and questions. But life goes on and the Master Planner does not forget us. We are not lost or forsaken. Instead of choosing doubt and believing we will always be stuck, we can choose joy and certainty that more is to come.
Abraham lived a life fulfilled by God’s promises. If we look at Abraham’s life, there were many times of not knowing what lay ahead. But God promised to bless Him and his descendants. In the Message version of Hebrews 6, this is outlined beautifully.
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable. Hebrews 6:13-18
What does it look like to live in a time of waiting? How do you hold onto God’s promises when your vision is clouded? When you feel unsettled, do you know that your story has been written and God reveals it chapter by chapter in His timing?
You might be thinking these are great questions, but you want answers! Whenever I find myself in this blank space of time, my gut response defers to wanting immediate solutions. Patience and perseverance are not my default if it can be fixed sooner. Over and over, God shows us through the ministry of His son Jesus and in the life of Paul, that an easy fix is not His default. What would it take to grab perseverance and patience in your time of waiting?
For me, it takes:
Intentionality – a purposeful time of centering myself on God as the day begins which helps me throughout the rest of the day
Remembering – that God brought me to this place of in between because He wants to work in me. He needs a place of stillness to accomplish this work. Busy pulls us away from God and His plan. Quiet focus on Him brings us to closer relationship with Him.
Trust – a belief in God and His story for my life. It is having faith that the path God designed for me will always bring me home.
Gratitude – beginning each day thanking God for the gift of a new day. This simple act of worship is a deal breaker. It can make or break how the rest of your day goes.
One of the pastors of my church calls this time “certain uncertainty”. It is a time of God revealing next steps when we are ready. He doesn’t call us to face the time alone. God knows the process is painful but He promises it is always worth it on the other side.
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I pray if you find yourself in this time of “certain uncertainty”, you know how much God is guiding the process even when you can’t see anything happening. He takes your doubt and gives you clarity. God takes the quiet moments and prepares you to faithfully move ahead when He reveals your next step. He allows the hard to infuse the process but not consume it. Believe in God’s promises and know there is so much more on the other side.
Sabbath blessings,
Thank you for these encouraging thoughts to keep trusting through the waiting time. This, especially is touching my heart: “Remembering – that God brought me to this place of in between because He wants to work in me. He needs a place of stillness to accomplish this work.” Since my word for the year has been “Stillness” I definitely can hear God calling me to not forget HIS purposes are at work in me. Blessings to you through these waiting days also!
Stillness is a beautiful word. We can learn so much in a time of listening well and staying quiet. God does work in us through all times even when we are not aware that anything is happening. I am praying for you Bettie as you learn to lean in and listen well in the stillness.
Thanks for these thoughts on waiting and leaning into God’s grace. I’m in an “in between” on a few things I’ve been praying for. Your words on patience and perseverance strike a chord because they’re the very words God has put in my heart the past few days. 🙂
God teaches me the lesson of patience and perseverance over and over. It seems I have not completely broken out of my default mode of trying to fix it right away. It has been quite the push and pull and it’s due to me not letting go. I forget how much easier it would be to let God do His work without interruption. I pray you find patience and perseverance and your time of in between is short-lived. Hugs and blessings friend!
“Busy pulls us away from God and His plan. ” this is so true, Mary! Being intentional about meeting with God each day and trying to learn to interact with Him all the day long is keeping me sane in this season of uncertainty. Great post, my friend. Blessings on your Sabbath!
I really like ‘certain uncertainty’ too! I grasped on to Andy Stanley’s ‘time is your friend’ statement from a video series he did called Starting Over. I find too, in my season right now, I can take the next steps yet do not see results. I kind of see this as a season of waiting too. I wonder if we are always in a season waiting in some aspect as we follow and deepen our relationship with God? Pondering thoughts for this sabbath day!
Great thoughts! Andy Stanley’s “time is your friend” is a good idea to hold onto. I tend to dislike that extra space when nothing is happening. This will help me to remember that the waiting is okay. I also believe we are always in a season of waiting in certain areas in our life. It is a great thought to ponder on this Sabbath. God always desires to spend time with us and it could be his way of insuring that. Blessings!
Mary,
I love this “certain uncertainty”. We may not know what lies around the next bend, but God does. We can have certain reliance and dependence upon Him even if we don’t know the details. In my recuperation, I have found myself in “the middle” a lot. Thanks for an encouraging post that reminds me “God’s got this”. I also need to work on my gratitude – not for the trials – but in them.
Sunday blessings,
Bev xx
I imagine your “in the middle” looks different than mine but it still is a time of waiting. I pray you are recuperating and as you are in this time, I hope God is teaching you well. I am grateful that you continue to put your heart and soul into RCF. Getting a note or update from you in the mail always makes my day. Blessings and hugs!
This thought: “Busy pulls us away from God and His plan.”
I find that when I’m perplexed, I stuff my days full and work to fill the minutes, when I really should be sitting still in quietness, with open hands and an open heart.
It sounds as if we both have “issues” around patience — trusting that in these “middle” moments we will persevere in faithful attention to our Shepherd.
I’m a fixer so some of my frustration and lack of patience are due to trying to figure out a solution before God is ready to provide one. I truly always thought I was patient but am learning that I am patient in certain situations but in others it’s as if I never knew it. Thank you for joining me. Blessings on your day!