Do you ever feel like you are just going through the motions of life?
Like you’re just doing what your day calls for but not really being intentional, let alone making an impactful or inspiring anyone?
I will admit that I have definitely gone through those in-between times — the times when you feel uncertain about what you do, who you are, and what you should be. Before I began college, people were always telling me that most of my life will be spent working and studying. I would nod in agreement to be polite, but never really believed them.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but those people who predicted my future life would consist of little to no sleep, seemingly endless homework, and long work hours were entirely right.
Before I started college I figured that it would be a breeze and that learning entirely new concepts would come easy to me, as high school work had. However, what I have found is that life is often unpredictable, and you can find yourself in a rut with seemingly no way out. These times are what they often call the in between times, or the transitional periods of your life.
These are the times when you value friends, and church, and time with your family so much more than you did before because you have so little time on your hands.
My senior year of high school was one of the most incredible years of my life, I had a leadership class every morning at eight AM and was constantly inspired to reach my goals. I felt that there was nothing that I couldn’t accomplish. I graduated Valedictorian, was asked to write an article for a global Christian magazine, and accomplished so many of my goals and dreams. Starting college, I initially thought that all the same things were possible, and that life would continue as it had before. Instead, I began to feel frustrated, and life began to seem a bit grim.
There will be moments when you think that what you have to offer God just isn’t enough. There will be times when you feel like giving up, and like you can’t make it, and that you don’t have what it takes to fulfill your purpose.
I felt like I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose, or doing anything that would really matter in the long run. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I would finish college, get my degree, but then what? And more importantly, I was frustrated because I was not being as impactful as I wanted to be. To be honest, I felt like no one understood this great unknown that I was facing. I felt like I didn’t have the time to be successful in every area of my life. I just wanted to be the best worship leader and the best youth class teacher because that is what God would have wanted, and the best employee at my work, and the best student in my class, and the best blogger, and the best friend I could possibly be, and the list continues. I felt overwhelmed, and I experienced exhaustion and burnout like I never had before. So today, if you are anything like me, and if you happen to find yourself in a similar situation, I hope that you will continue reading.
What I have realized is that God blesses the in-between times. There will be moments when you think that what you have to offer God just isn’t enough. There will be times when you feel like giving up, and like you can’t make it, and that you don’t have what it takes to fulfill your purpose.
But darling, your greater is coming.
Let’s examine the life of David: he was a man who most remember as an incredible king, a warrior, the giant slayer, the man “after God’s own heart.” He was a man who left an incredible legacy and had a story that will forever will encourage people. But we often fail to forget that David went through some in-between times in his own life. I promise you there were times in his life when he had thoughts of uncertainty. David was anointed to be king of Israel as a very young, inexperienced man. I cannot even imagine the excitement that ensued when it was told that he would be the future king of his beloved nation and people.
I think sometimes we jump right from the point where David was anointed to the part where he actually became king. The truth is that David did not become king for quite some time after he was anointed to be king. Instead, David’s life became one of fear and frustration. King Saul was so jealous of David’s anointing that he tried to kill him. So instead of doing something miraculous and memorable and impactful, David was forced to spend his time in hiding. He was frustrated, he was afraid and he was exhausted.
What we find, however, is that during those in-between times of his life, when he just seemed to be going through the motions of everyday life, he wrote some of the most passionate, heartfelt Psalms and songs to the Lord. He made music even in his pain and shared his heart with God. Now we know that during these times God blessed David to write some of the most incredible lyrics that have ever been written. God used David’s in-between times to bless others through his writings and experiences. Just like David, God will bless you during your own in-between times if you will simply trust him.