Waiting in the land between

 

     "Waiting in the Land Between"     

     On a recent Sunday at my church, Pastor Tim's sermon bore the above title, which immediately captured my attention. 

     How many times throughout our life's journey have we felt we were "waiting in the land between," where we already were, and where we hoped to be someday? 

     Perhaps, waiting to be hired for that specially desired job; waiting months for a new baby to enter our family; waiting for the results of a medical test; or a much-needed operation; or waiting for that person of your dreams to become your life's mate. 

     I believe how we live and what we do meanwhile "in the land between" will determine the quality of our day-to-day existence. It will also have an affect on those around us. 

     Pastor Tim likened such experiences to the children of Israel.  After being miraculously delivered from King Pharaoh's beastly control, their lack of perspective and short memory soon took over. Instead of showing gratefulness and worship to the God who had freed them from such horrible bondage, complaints began about their hardships, boredom with the food, (the daily miracle of manna and quail), and they began wishing they had died in Egypt. 

     So, because of their lack of faith and ungrateful attitudes towards God's goodness, their generation would never get to see "the land flowing with milk and honey." 

     They missed out on God's best for them and so, wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.  

     I wonder if there aren't times when we find ourselves wandering aimlessly in our own wilderness, having lost our compass and sense of direction we thought we once had. 

     We, too, become impatient with our situation, begin to whine, feel sorry for ourselves and our present circumstances, and perhaps blame God for not showing up or caring. Like the Israelites, we fail the memory test, entirely! We forget the abundant provisions of the past when life was good. Yet, some of life's important discoveries could be realized while "in the land between," if we trusted more fully in the One who really knows what is best for us. 

     Few of us will escape the storms of life that will inevitably come our way, in one form or another. But, just as a good earthly father shows his love by walking beside and guiding his child, so our Heavenly Father also reminds us, "... I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."  — Isaiah 41:10 

     Many times, "I forget to remember!"  

     

     But, He forgives me, picks me up and sets me on the right path again, and says, "Do better now my child!  Trust ME."


— beulah