Middle school.
The summer after you graduate high school, before you go to college.
The few months after you decide to move but before you actually do.
Engagement.
Senior year of college, when you have to decide what is next.
Pregnancy.
As a matter of fact, our entire life is an in-between stage. As Christians, we know we are not made for this world and we have an incredible desire to be home with Jesus.
The end result of in-between stages is great but getting there can be challenging, exhausting and annoying. You're stuck. You have a great desire to be in the next stage and experience all that it has to offer, good and bad. But you're not there yet. You are in-between. What do you do?
Abide.
Remain. Dwell. Stay.
Abide in Jesus. Remain in his love, John 15:9.
"But I'm scared because..." Abide.
"But I don't know what that looks like..." Abide.
"But I just want to be there..." Abide.
"But what if..." Abide.
"But I can do it myself..." No, abide.
"But...!" Daughter, abide in my love. Remain in me.
We want to figure things out on our own. We want to have a plan. We want to know exactly what to do and when to do it. So our minds run wild and we try to do it all ourselves. (At least I do). "I can figure this out, I'll bring peace to myself because God, thanks, but no thanks." No one ever admits that this happens, myself included. But deep down in my core, that is what my heart is screaming. "Lord I trust you, but in this in-between stage, I just want to figure it out by my big, bad self because it doesn't feel like you are really helping me at all."
Abiding in Jesus takes faith and trust....which is my greatest issue in life, just ask any of my closest friends.
But Jesus wants us to remain in him. He figures things out. He has a plan. He knows exactly what to do and when to do it. Our job is simply to abide in his unfailing love. Rest in his presence. Pursue Him instead of the things of this world.
Yes, in-between stages are annoying, and difficult. They pull you in a million different directions.
Abide, dwell, stay in Jesus.
John 15:9-11
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
Matthew 22:37-38
Jesus replied,"You must love The Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment."
