Faith in the In-Between

If we have ever had hopes and aspirations, we would also know what the land in between feels like. The in-between is the waiting for what we have been hoping for – an unrealised dream, the fruit of our labour, a restoration to normalcy. It could be a relationship we have always longed for, a baby years in the making, a clean bill of health, or growth in the ministry we have faithfully invested in.

Waiting tests us tremendously. We may compare with others or doubt ourselves. We may lose heart, feel anxious, and even draw away from God in our restlessness. If given a choice, most of us would rather skip this “in-between” and go straight to the point where we get our heart’s desires.

Today’s passage describes the enduring patience of the Patriarchs. They not only had hope, but they were also eagerly awaiting to receive the things God had promised. Yet, they could only welcome them from a distance. They dealt with this in-between by having faith, recognising that they were foreigners on earth. Instead of losing hope and turning back, they looked forward to the heavenly country they belonged to. They understood that whatever they could get in their lives on earth was transient.

It can be easy for us to lose sight of God and His eternal promises when we experience the longing for what we still desire. Yet, these moments are not only meant to be tolerated but are truly opportunities for God to prune and shape us in our faith. As the Patriarchs did, it is our opportunity to “set our minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2).

Our response to God while in the land between is what will determine whether our journey through this desert will result in deep, positive growth or spiritual decline.

Jeff Manion

In our in-between, ask God to open our spiritual eyes to perceive all He is doing in and through us. Pray that He will enable us to hold loosely to the things of this world and to yearn for our heavenly country, our greatest hope.