The In-Between

Have you ever reached a point in your life where it feels like you just can’t move on from the last season? Whether that season was good or bad, joyful or painful, there are times when letting go feels harder than we expected.

Life is full of seasons. Some seasons feel light and hopeful - like discovering you’re finally going to have the child you’ve been praying for, or receiving a promotion you desperately needed. Those good seasons often feel easy to live in, and even harder to leave behind. Other seasons are heavy. Maybe you’ve lost a job you depended on, or your only reliable vehicle suddenly breaks down. These seasons test us, stretch us, and sometimes leave us feeling worn down. They aren’t as easy to walk through - yet somehow, they still shape us deeply.

Have you ever found yourself coming out of one season, but not feeling able to move on to the next step? You want to move on. You want to see what happens next. Yet, something inside is holding you back. Perhaps you’re still healing from what you just walked through, or trying to make sense of everything that changed so quickly. Maybe it’s fear of the unknown - wondering if the next season will bring more joy or more heartbreak. Whatever the reason, you find yourself stuck in this strange place of transition. A place where you’re no longer who you were, but not quite who you’re becoming yet. A place that feels uncertain, uncomfortable, and quiet. A place that sits right in between. In the in-between, it can feel tempting to rush ahead or cling tightly to what’s familiar. We want answers, direction, and reassurance that we’re moving the right way. But sometimes, this space isn’t meant to be hurried. Sometimes, it’s where healing begins, where trust is formed, and where God is gently preparing our hearts for what’s next.

"Everything has its own time, and there is a specific time for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

Though the place you find yourself in may not always be good, believe it or not, it has a purpose. God would not have let you get to this place if it didn't have a purpose. As you may have heard me say before, God is the perfect Father. He would never set us up for failure or lead us in the wrong direction. He has a bigger plan that we can't see. It's our job to trust in Him and see where He leads us in the end. And if you're having trouble holding onto God's promises while you're in the in-between? Pray. I know, it's so cliché - the Christian blogger is encouraging you to pray. But don't tune me out yet. Listen to this. I was having a really bad day the other day. My friend encouraged me to pray about it. I had the same reaction you might be having right now. Why? I was already praying about what was going on and I felt nothing different. I actually went off on a whole tangent about how I was praying and nothing was happening. But I still prayed, reluctantly and annoyed, but I did it. The next day I felt better and I knew it was from all the praying I had done the day before. I shared that story to tell you this - even if it seems like nothing is happening, God hears your prayers and He is working.

Remember Job? He lost everything. What did he do? Still gave the glory to God. His friends told him that he should curse God for everything that was happening, but Job kept doing what he always had. I don't know about you, but if I were in a season like that I don't think I'd have the same reaction. I honestly wouldn't even know how to respond to something like that. It is so admirable that Job stayed strong in his faith and pressed through what was probably the most difficult season of his life. The ending to his journey was simply amazing. God blessed Job with more than he had before. You really don't know what a season of life can bring you - even the difficult ones.

"I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

For anyone who is reading this post and feeling completely stuck, this is my prayer for you. May God fill you with joy and peace. I don't know what you're feeling, but if you are having trouble moving on I'd imagine you don't have the best feelings. I've felt that way plenty of times before. God's joy and peace are far better than anything else you could be feeling. You just have to trust that He'll give those to you. I love the second sentence - you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Confident hope. You're not just hoping that things will work out some day - you're confidently believing that God will come through for you. But you can't attain this kind of hope on your own. You need the help of the Holy Spirit. Once again, you have to trust that He will help you have this kind of hope. This is something you can't do on your own.

Even in the in-between, even when it feels like nothing is changing, God is still at work. He is shaping your heart, building your trust, and filling you with a hope that doesn’t depend on circumstances. You may not see the full picture yet, but you can rest in the promise that joy, peace, and confident hope are available to you right now. So take a deep breath. Keep praying. Keep trusting. And remember that the space between seasons is not wasted - it’s preparing you for the next chapter, one step at a time, with God guiding every moment.