A Time to Live in the In-between

I have always felt a little funny on this day. The Saturday between Good Friday when we remember that Jesus was crucified and Easter Sunday when we remember that Jesus made a come back. I have always felt like I can’t be happy because Jesus was dead, but we know that is not the end of the story. In many ways, as we live during the time in-between Jesus resurrection/ ascension and second coming we are living in a perpetual “Saturday.” We know that this is not the end, we have been told about a come back, but how often do we forget about it? How often are we torn up by the past, or forget that we have a greater gift that is coming? We are often stuck in the in-between. How we decide to live is going to be always caught in-between the past and the future, right now is where we are. What we do with our right now matters.

I recently finished watching and discussing The Chosen Season 2 with some friends at church. We noticed that not all of what they show is how it happened in the Bible. We appreciated the visuals that brought the Bible stories we have grown up reading and listening to in church to life. We also noticed that not all of what they show is exactly in the order in which it all actually happened. The Bible when read front cover to back cover is also not written in order of how it happened. It is structured more by what each witness had recorded via the words of the Holy Spirit. Some right as they happened and some years ahead of their time, or behind there time.

Perhaps the time is not what matters. What matters is the content. What happened, what aligns with history books, how so many authors could write about the same Jesus over so many years and have it all tell one true story. What matters is that we believe in the Bible’s truth. Exactly what happened matters in regards to Jesus birth, life, death, resurrection, return, and ascension because all of the prophecies line up with what Jesus did. Truth – Read the Bible and you will realize nothing else is like it. The Bible probably won’t make sense to you the first time, but as you keep reading it, more and more will make sense.

Everyone else also plays a part in the history, and so do we. The timing is not what matters for our part, what matters is that we believe, we share what we know, and we live our lives as true to what we can to what we believe. We will tell the truth of the Bible stories as we need to share them. We rarely will start at the very beginning. We all get to have the same ending with faith – heaven.

Lately I feel like I have been trying to figure out what change I sense is coming. I know that I am doing well where I am. I love that I get to live my dream and teach dance. I feel like change is looming and I can’t help but ask what, when, and who else will be involved??? I am not meant to know the answers right now. I am meant to trust in God’s timing. I am meant to keep on dancing. I am meant to continue to live a life that is full of faith, friends and food- both the spiritual and physical kind. I know that I am meant to write this blog. What else? I couldn’t say, but I keep on living. I keep on trusting. I trust and lean on my friends and family to help me identify what is next as I live out my in-between.

Trust is hard. In order to surrender, we need to trust. You cannot fully surrender until you fully trust. They go hand in hand. I have been wondering why surrendering has been a struggle to work on over the last few years, but this year I have figured out that I need to trust more, so that I can surrender, which ultimately will calm my worry, fear, and anxiety. When I try to take back control, I loose trust when my patience leaves and I am done waiting – this is when life begins to spiral. I know this and yet I still fall into patterns of being on a positivity swing versus being on a anxiety consumed spiral downwards. It is so challenging to stop spiraling down once you start. I know. Look up, pray, God is there waiting to help you.

I pray that you find help to stop the spiraling and find some clarity with a counselor, therapist, and/or a close friend or two.

May you find peace today in your soul. May God give you the clarity you ask for, and may you look up and take it when it is time for you to see. Notice who you cross paths with – they, too, are a part of the history you are living in this in-between as we wait for Jesus to come back again. Trust that God knows what He is doing with His timing. Be aware of how you live your life of faith. Life is not promised to be easy, but Jesus did the hardest thing for us on Good Friday. Life is not promised to be easy, but eternity in heaven will be so worth the short time we are asked to be here. Life is not promised to be easy, but God promises to be with us always. Take heart, my friends.

Embrace the in-between.

– Em