I am FINALLY coming out of the fog of the in-between. Have you ever been in the in-between leaving a season of something behind looking ahead to what will come next but you aren't quite sure what that is or what it looks like? I feel like this has been the longest in-between for me. About three or four years ago I entered this season reluctantly. I felt things end and shift but wasn't quite sure what was on the horizon. I pondered, searched, and forced many things to happen. It wasn't until this past year when I decided to rest in the Lord did my in-between start coming to a close and the beauty of the new awakened.
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
I can't say that I was always joyful, patient, and faithful in my time of waiting. I questioned God and wondered what my purpose was outside of mom, wife, and friend (as if that isn't enough). I knew deep down that there was something out there waiting for me. I also knew that God needed to do a work in me before I could get there. I needed to journey through and purge out some stuff; some gunk. But, being the girl that I am, I didn't want to wait or be patient. I wanted to get there now, maybe even yesterday.
I remember when Scott and I were first married. I was always in such a rush to get to the next thing. I couldn't enjoy the moment I was in because I was so ready for what was to come next. On one occasion, he told me to stop praying for patience because it was now effecting him. I don't pray for patience anymore. I have learned my lesson and know trials regarding patience are a given.
It wasn't until I decided that the in-between was a good place to park that God revealed Himself to me. I was too busy trying to figure out the mystery of my future to see, hear, and know Him and the greatness He had planned for me in the next season. I needed to sit, walk away from a few commitments that I loved dearly, and rest in His constant stability. I am learning that as things in our lives change, become chaotic, or, on the other end of the spectrum, boring, He doesn't change. His Word, His sovereignty, His grace is sustainable; never-changing.
'He says, "Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10
Being still is a tough concept for me. I struggle with stillness and silence. One might think I would enjoy the quiet given I have three young boys and a obnoxious dog but it's a real challenge. This season of in-between has enabled me to see the glorious richness in the stillness. Although what is yet to come isn't here yet, there is magic, peace, security, and grace in the in-between. There is breath and life in the stillness. Once I learned that, I grasped onto the in-between like it was my job. God weaved His way in and out of my life reaching to the depths of my soul. I kept feeling Him ask me, "Are you ready for this? Are you ready for what is about to come because I am going to absolutely knock your socks off!" I also heard, "Be patient. Be still. I am not finished with you yet. You still have something to learn before I can move you forward." I wouldn't have heard or felt Him if I didn't grasp tightly to the in-between; if I didn't rest and be still.
So, now what? Now that the in-between is winding down and the next chapters in beginning what do I do? I miss the in-between. There was security there for me. I became attached to that space. It was comfortable. I think because I learned to hold tightly to the stage of emptiness and realized that it is just that: a stage, I learned that every phase we go through is magical. There is refinement in the ugly grueling trials. Discovery happens when we rest. Courage comes when our faith is tested. We just need to learn to hang on and enjoy the ride.
"The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." Deuteronomy 2:7
Forty years! The people of Israel were wandering through the wilderness for 40 years! My four year in-between moment is but a flash compared to theirs yet God said that He watched over them. He did not leave them in that journey even though they felt far from Him. I know it's easy to talk about those lonely in-between times once you've peeled yourself out of them, but I am here to give you hope. There is another side after the in-between. Your dry bones will come together once again refreshed and ready for battle; ready for the goodness that is to come. We must only rest and let God do His work in us in those in-between times then, and only then, will we truly be ready for the vastness and greatness He has in store for our lives.
God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Master God, only you know that.” He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’” God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!” I prophesied just as I’d been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them. He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!’” So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army. Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’ “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’” Ezekiel 37: 1-14
Don't be like the dry bones proclaiming you are dried up all hope lost. Let God breath life in you, especially in the in-between. If He says it, He will do it.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
I can't say that I was always joyful, patient, and faithful in my time of waiting. I questioned God and wondered what my purpose was outside of mom, wife, and friend (as if that isn't enough). I knew deep down that there was something out there waiting for me. I also knew that God needed to do a work in me before I could get there. I needed to journey through and purge out some stuff; some gunk. But, being the girl that I am, I didn't want to wait or be patient. I wanted to get there now, maybe even yesterday.
I remember when Scott and I were first married. I was always in such a rush to get to the next thing. I couldn't enjoy the moment I was in because I was so ready for what was to come next. On one occasion, he told me to stop praying for patience because it was now effecting him. I don't pray for patience anymore. I have learned my lesson and know trials regarding patience are a given.
It wasn't until I decided that the in-between was a good place to park that God revealed Himself to me. I was too busy trying to figure out the mystery of my future to see, hear, and know Him and the greatness He had planned for me in the next season. I needed to sit, walk away from a few commitments that I loved dearly, and rest in His constant stability. I am learning that as things in our lives change, become chaotic, or, on the other end of the spectrum, boring, He doesn't change. His Word, His sovereignty, His grace is sustainable; never-changing.
'He says, "Be still and know that I am God..." Psalm 46:10
Being still is a tough concept for me. I struggle with stillness and silence. One might think I would enjoy the quiet given I have three young boys and a obnoxious dog but it's a real challenge. This season of in-between has enabled me to see the glorious richness in the stillness. Although what is yet to come isn't here yet, there is magic, peace, security, and grace in the in-between. There is breath and life in the stillness. Once I learned that, I grasped onto the in-between like it was my job. God weaved His way in and out of my life reaching to the depths of my soul. I kept feeling Him ask me, "Are you ready for this? Are you ready for what is about to come because I am going to absolutely knock your socks off!" I also heard, "Be patient. Be still. I am not finished with you yet. You still have something to learn before I can move you forward." I wouldn't have heard or felt Him if I didn't grasp tightly to the in-between; if I didn't rest and be still.
So, now what? Now that the in-between is winding down and the next chapters in beginning what do I do? I miss the in-between. There was security there for me. I became attached to that space. It was comfortable. I think because I learned to hold tightly to the stage of emptiness and realized that it is just that: a stage, I learned that every phase we go through is magical. There is refinement in the ugly grueling trials. Discovery happens when we rest. Courage comes when our faith is tested. We just need to learn to hang on and enjoy the ride.
"The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you, and you have not lacked anything." Deuteronomy 2:7
Forty years! The people of Israel were wandering through the wilderness for 40 years! My four year in-between moment is but a flash compared to theirs yet God said that He watched over them. He did not leave them in that journey even though they felt far from Him. I know it's easy to talk about those lonely in-between times once you've peeled yourself out of them, but I am here to give you hope. There is another side after the in-between. Your dry bones will come together once again refreshed and ready for battle; ready for the goodness that is to come. We must only rest and let God do His work in us in those in-between times then, and only then, will we truly be ready for the vastness and greatness He has in store for our lives.
God grabbed me. God’s Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun. He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Master God, only you know that.” He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones: ‘Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!’” God, the Master, told the dry bones, “Watch this: I’m bringing the breath of life to you and you’ll come to life. I’ll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You’ll come alive and you’ll realize that I am God!” I prophesied just as I’d been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them. He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!’” So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army. Then God said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they’re saying: ‘Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there’s nothing left of us.’ “Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, ‘God, the Master, says: I’ll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I’ll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll breathe my life into you and you’ll live. Then I’ll lead you straight back to your land and you’ll realize that I am God. I’ve said it and I’ll do it. God’s Decree.’” Ezekiel 37: 1-14
Don't be like the dry bones proclaiming you are dried up all hope lost. Let God breath life in you, especially in the in-between. If He says it, He will do it.
Love & Blessings,
Meg
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