Here’s some great counsel from a wise man (Solomon) to his son, (read it and we’ll come back to it in a minute),

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:23-27)

Yesterday we went to Fusion Church (a church plant meeting in a high school). Pastor Tony delivered a word right to my heart. He said, “Sometimes the hardest place to be is in between.” In other words, you’re not where you used to be, but you’re not where you want to be. That’s where I’m at… in between.

For the last year I have been living “in between”. While this year has been so valuable, and I would certainly do it again, it has also been draining. I’ve been functioning out of my weaknesses while the areas of strength and giftedness have been virtually untapped. The things that impassion me (e.g. teaching, pastoring, leading) have not been my lot this year, while the things that drain me (e.g. working in the details, etc.) have been my full time job.

My guess is that I’m not the only one living in this land of discomfort; the land of “in between”. You or someone you know is on a similar journey. Anticipation of arrival is what keeps you going! That promotion, that next step relationally (e.g. marriage; kids moving out; etc.), that vacation… or whatever your “arrival point” is keeps you going. But if you’re honest, the journey through the land of “in between” gets pretty long.

So how do we successfully navigate the journey from where we were to where we’re going? I think Solomon’s words are dead on,

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” (Proverbs 4:23-27)

Thanks to the counsel of two wise men (Solomon and Tony) I believe I’ll make it through this land of “in between”, and you can make it through yours too! Hang in there! Keep believing and stay focused and some day we’ll each arrive in the land of promise!