There is Grace Found in the In-Between

   We all know the feeling of being in a season of in-between. When what we’re praying for isn’t quite here yet, but we aren’t where we were…it can cause us to feel a mix of emotions. From gratefulness, all the way to discouragement. This is a time were pressing into the Lord is vital to staying spiritually filled and operative. But what happens when hope starts to bleed into frustration, and faith into fear?
   
  What do we do when we’re not walking in gratefulness? When we're having trouble remaining in faith and with hopeful expectancy on God’s promises during the in-between? How do we cross the great divide, from waiting in fear and frustration to hope and faith again? And how does God see us when this becomes our battle?
 
  Many Christians subconsciously believe that when they struggle to operate perfectly in faith amidst the trials of life that God’s view of them changes. Deep inside, it can become easy to believe that He sees us as less worthy, unlovable, too much, not enough, weak, or even in anger when we struggle because of our own fear. Whether that fear stems from our own experiences with imperfect love, hurtful relationships, hurt and woundings of the spirit, trauma, and even a generational stronghold of the mind passed down. But God’s word tells us this in Malachai 3:6 — "For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

   Because Gods love for us never changes, we have hope.
   Because Gods goodness never changes, we have hope.
   Because Gods promises never changes, we have hope.
   Because Gods character never changes, we have hope.
   
   Because God never changes, His view of us remains one of perfect love. We never have to be worried that His heart will change towards us just because ours is struggling to remain in hope and is grasping to stay afloat in faith.

   When in a waiting season, the greatest thing we can do isn’t to work harder, do better, perfect ourselves, or take matters into our own hands. But rather, it is to avert our gaze onto the God of the universe. Whether that be through praise and worship, journaling, listening to sermons, memorizing or memorizing scripture…having our gaze’s turned from our worries and problems to Adoni, Ancient of Days, I Am that I Am, Yeshua, The Red Rose of Sharon, our Strong Tower, our Deliverer is what restores our energy and brings a fresh wind in our sails. It is in the continual and intentional keeping of our gaze on him by grace through faith that causes us to be able to endure the in between season with gratefulness and joy. It is a strength not forced within ourselves, but received from our Source.

   We can take hope in the fact that when we’re in the waiting season, and we feel as if God is withholding good things from us and that we are lacking, our answers can be found in the reminder of God’s good character in scripture. God is our portion. He lacks no good thing, which means if He is our portion and lacks no good thing, He will not cause us to lack what we need. We can trust that our trustworthy savior will bring into fruition His promises in every area of our lives when we make it a point to focus on Him. Through prayer, repentance, deliverance, and ministry, we can become equipped and further encouraged to confidently walk and receive the promises of God. We can trust that because we are blood bought children of Christ who are endeavoring to have a renewed mind in Christ and a personal relationship with the Lord, that the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places, even if they aren’t where we want them right now, because God is in them with us. He has not abandoned us in the waiting.

      When we’re in a season of “I’m not where I used to be” but “I’m not where I want to be…”, we can take it as an opportunity to see Jesus as our ultimate provision and High Priest, on both days where you feel empowered, and days where you feel weary.
   
   If you’re endeavoring to wait in faith and hope on God’s promises and provisions, we encourage you to watch our teaching — “Waiting on God” today!

How have your eyes fallen onto your worries and fears? How can you choose instead today to avert them back to Christ?