The In-Between

Seasons in life resemble a story.  We have an intro, a plot, a climax, a resolution, and the end.  That's how every season goes. This ebb and flow of a season can bring about physical and mental sickness from the roller coaster ride of emotions we all go through (right mom??).

Then, there's always the in-between time.  That time between the end of one season and the beginning of another.  All the waters are steadily flowing - no major cliffs or rocks ahead.  But we can be sure that there are rough waters coming. These rough waters always bring about change. 

Now I'm not a huge lover of change.  There's a lot of comfort in knowing something is stable and working well.  I have a good job.  I have a good family life.  I have a good church.  I have a reliable car.  Yada yada yada....

The change factor is so painful.  It just is.  It rips us from these norms and most times, the pain is totally worth it.  Sometimes it's not.  However, I really believe change is what we make of it.

I chose today, while faced with anxiety, to praise God.
I chose today, while frustrated with illness, to keep working on (and believing in) healing.
I chose today, while my schedule changed, to be excited about the different opportunity.

If we stay in that in-between place and refuse to face change, we will be sitting pretty until the sun rots our skin.  (Go with the metaphor, people... :))  But as we move with calm and turbulent waters, we become more beautiful and we are saved from lack of purpose.  And we also learn that, oftentimes, there is no "dropoff ahead", but rather, a very lovely place of new life.

And if ever you doubted that God can use [seemingly bad or hard] change for good purposes, don't.

Miriam chose, while babies were being killed, to trust her baby Moses to the God who controls the water.  And her son became the rescuer of an entire nation from slavery.

Harriet Tubman chose, to stand up for justice and took a beating for a fellow slave at a very young age.  Later, God used her to rescue slaves in America for many, many years.  She knew what a beating was like and was able to face it head on when it came.  She was unafraid of it anymore.

Mary chose, while facing incredible ridicule, to become mother to the Savior of the world - and later watch him die for the world.  Would she have changed her mind if she could go back?  I don't believe she would consider it for an instant.


Let's move from that in-between place.  Let's not let fear of change keep us from pulling our shoulders back, looking toward heaven, and letting God walk us through it gracefully with strength and purpose.