There’s this awkward place called in-between. Maybe you’re there?
If you are, you know it can sometimes be a horrible place to be as you feel like you aren’t really any where. You feel stuck! You aren’t sure where you are, as you long for where you want to be.
That’s where I am.
I’ve spent a week preparing for Taking it to the Streets this Saturday night where we will feed 400 people. It’s a community event and everyone pitches in to donate food, drink, desserts, clothes, shoes, socks, and hygiene products. I’m pretty sure I’ve crossed all my T’s and dotted my I’d, but there’s this uncertainly of not knowing.
There’s this in-between time where I will have to lay every doubt and “what if” before the Lord. I’ve done my part. I’ll have to turn every worry over to God and ask for His blessing and miracle. And I’ll use my in-between time to remember the other in-between times where God came through in miraculous ways. Pics here.
So for now, I sit in this awkward in-between time until Saturday evening. Then I’ll show up and watch community come together with God’s provision to bless the homeless community.
In-between is where my daughter is too.
Having a strong call on her life to open shelters for children rescued out of human trafficking, she is in her training and preparation phase.
Her burden is so strong that she’d love to quit nursing school and jump out of the in-between and into her calling, but that would only be detrimental to her long term goal.
Jumping out of the in-between too soon only frustrates the plans of God.
While none of us like the in-between
Let’s remember that there is much to gain in the wait.
God is working.
God is teaching.
God is refining.
God is preparing.
Do you find yourself frustrated in the wait of the in-between? Tell me about your in-between in the comments.
I’m writing about the in-between over at Lisa-Jo Baker’s. My friend Jeff Goins has a new book fixing to come out about the Being Stuck in the In-Between, check it out.
(Stopping by from FMF) My husband is in between jobs and we are in between homes. I love that thought: “there is much to gain in the wait” – definitely a lesson I’m learning right now! Thanks for sharing this post!
Taryn – oh my . . . being between jobs that is a very in between place. a frustrating place. Praying for your time in wait.
Oh my gosh, Yes. I feel like most of my life has been in between, waiting for God, waiting on God to work what He needed in me, to release me into purpose and calling. It stinks, but I also know if not for that preparation time, i would’ve been my own worst enemy. Love your heart, Alene.
“Let’s remember that there is much to gain in the wait.”
Amen! Oh, thank you for this. I am so in the waiting! Yet, I know God has a purpose in each stage of the wait! Blessings on your Friday!
“Jumping out of the in-between too soon only frustrates the plans of God.” This is know too well. I will be praying for you Saturday. I know that God will show up in a mighty way and do mighty things. Thank you for saying yes to Him!
Thanks for your prayers. I am fixing to head out as the community comes together. Great night to love on the homeless as they are parched and passing out in this heat.
Alene, I so know this place, this feeling. Praying for you both as you wait, as you trust, and seek and listen for God. There is purpose in the in between, this is what I remind myself again and again.
Hi Alene, we are living in the in between of time while we wait for Jesus to come again! And this is frustrating. So I can understand how your daughter must feel when she wants to jump in boots and all.
Give her my love, please! Will be praying for her.
Blessings
Mia
Mia – thanks for praying for my daughter.
I know this place…it can be so uncomfortable. Praying for you and your daughter.
Great words, Alene! I think one of lessons I continually learn about the in between is to not stop living and learning while we are there. Might as well make the best of it!
There are so many examples of in between. Thank you for sharing some of yours with us. And thanks for the reminder that God is working and has things to teach us during these times.
Love this… God is working in the In Between – yes! Yes ! YES!!! I want to move so fast and far ahead that I forget the waiting – prep time is where God is preparing… Thank you for this.
I think us girls that like to plan and girls that like to run ahead. So frustrated in the in between we waaaaaaaaait. :)
Just the word I needed today! We are definitely in between as a family. In between jobs, churches, plans and seasons. Praying that we learn what He is teaching!
Oh girl – that’s a whole lotta in-betweens. Saying a prayer for you.
Oh So GOOD!!! How often do we just want to fast forward to the next, instead of waiting in the in between? Often – for me… I know!
At times, I live every day frustrated. But, I am, in my in between, learning that this is sanctification. It’s painful, but also beautiful. And one day, it leads to glorification. Amen for that.
Such a beautiful word for the in-between – sanctification.
Maybe it’s the physical humanity where we only have a certain amount of time in life – and that’s what makes the waiting, the in between seem so wasteful, so time-consuming – but that is where so much God eternity stuff happens – and we have to learn to wait in the in between – because God’ timing is not constrained by a clock – we always seem to think it is:) Wishing you much blessing in your event this weekend:)
Always love your words friend! Fixing to head out to love on the homeless community as they are passing out from the heat here.
This really resonates with me: “Jumping out of the in between too soon only frustrates the plans of God.” So often I leap before I look at what God wants me to do–so sure of the rightness of my own way. Thank you for the reminder!
Oh, this is good. Sometimes the waiting (and waiting and waiting) is SO hard. I moved forward on a pretty huge dream this week…it was a teeny-tiny step, the only one I can take right now. So I pray and wait and pray some more. Thank you for the reminders that He’s still working…and refining, because I know I need that. Blessings, sweet friend. Thank you for this. :)
“I’ve done my part. I’ll have to turn every worry over to God and ask for His blessing and miracle. And I’ll use my in-between time to remember the other in-between times where God came through in miraculous ways.” Sometimes this is my consolation. We do what we are able to do and the rest is left in God’s hands. Beautiful piece. Praying grace, strength, and peace over your daughter as she awaits God’s perfect timing.
I have tried (sometimes “successfully,” sometimes not) to jump out of the in between – and oh what a mess that has made. If only I would keep in mind how much I grow in the in between – it may make me not want to rush it so much.
Yes, we do not like the in between but knowing that He is there waiting and He has already been there preparing make it so much easier. I hate that frustrating feeling when we can’t see that next step yet we are asked to take it only.
My husband and I are living in the “in between” in what we like to call “occupational purgatory.” He graduated in May with his phd in engineering and is currently job searching. He is teaching as an instructor at a university but he is searching for either a research position or a professorship. (instructor job is a masters level job.) Universities and government jobs take FOREVER to get back to you. So we wait. All the while, we are anxious to be un-stuck. We can’t really move on to the next phase of our lives (moving, having another baby, settling down, etc) until we get un-stuck. It is so hard to be in the in-between and waiting is so hard. But we know God has a plan and is preparing something awesome for us!
This bit is golden,
“There’s this in-between time where I will have to lay every doubt and “what if” before the Lord. I’ve done my part. I’ll have to turn every worry over to God and ask for His blessing and miracle. And I’ll use my in-between time to remember the other in-between times where God came through in miraculous ways.”
I love it.