The in-between times

By Charles Christian

Some refer to it as “the wilderness.” Some call it “the desert of days.” Others call it the “dark night of the soul.”

Whatever you may refer to the times in life that feel “in-between,” like we are waiting for the “next thing,” it certainly can’t be described as fun. These are times when no one but you seems to know what you are experiencing, and maybe you cannot even properly articulate what you’re feeling and what you are going through. The silence seems deafening.

For people of faith, there is good news even in the dark, silent, in-between times. The good news begins with the fact that even well-known characters in the Bible experienced these days.

In the Old Testament, Moses spent many years in exile before God used him to bring the Hebrew people to a place of freedom. Even that journey took 40 years of trudging through wilderness and desert.

In the New Testament, even Jesus had a time of in-between struggle. After his baptism in the Gospel of Mark, the Bible says, “Immediately the Spirit of God led him into the wilderness for 40 days” (see Mark 1:12-13). For Jesus, this was a time between the public recognition of his ministry and the actual beginnings of his work: 40 difficult days of fasting and being tempted.

From Moses to Jesus and most key figures of the Bible, the pattern seems to go something like this: call of God, wilderness time and then new beginning. It would likely help us to revisit this pattern often. We tend to wish for it to go something like this: wilderness time, call of God and then new beginning. However, too often, that is just not the case. In fact, the in-between times — the wilderness wandering times — are often when we can most fully prepare and commit to the new beginning that is to come. As painful as it may be, and as lonely as it may seem, these in-between times serve a purpose.

So, if you’re in an in-between time, even though you are convinced that something new is in store, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Virtually all people of faith have gone through it and will again. Along the way, remember the pattern and know that the wilderness doesn’t last forever. Check in with someone who has also been through this pattern, and allow them to encourage you.

Finally, along the way, look for times of refreshing and pay attention to what you are learning. When the new beginning comes, you’ll be ready.