the in between, the not yet.

I am titling this as the in between, the not yet. Because essentially, this is the reality that we live in until we leave this Earth to eternally enter our true home, heaven. We are sojourners, foreigners, nomads. We will never truly feel at rest here because we were made for eternity. Our hearts yearn for the one who calls us to be restored back to the garden. Back to our original design, where we were never supposed to be separated from Him. We were never supposed to know shame, grief, pain, & tears.  

I got this sense that someone out there needed to hear (rather read) that God is who He says He is. You may have big dreams in store for 2024. And I believe that with all my heart, God is about to do something glorious upon the Earth. It is a true privilege to be alive today. Whatever the calling on your life is, trust me when I say, God is more interested is being with you than what you do for Him. Let me say that again...God is more interested in your heart, than your hands. I have tried to find significance in doing the “religious things,” But nothing on this Earth truly satisfies the longing ache in our hearts like true relationship and intimacy with Jesus. I may not be qualified to do the “big things.” I may not be known or have a platform. But I have one thing that no one can ever take from me, that is peace and FREEDOM. 

I am here to say I am free from the pressures of life. I am free from the expectations of man. I am free from having to gain significance by being seen or doing the most “Holy” thing. This freedom comes from being in the desert place or some say “Wilderness.” 

1 Samuel 16:7 says, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 

God looks at the heart. The most important thing in life is reading your bible, asking the Holy Spirit what He is saying, and doing whatever He tells you to do. I am convinced of this Truth. Following Jesus will cost you everything, but He is everything. If you haven’t realized that yet, taking hold of this Truth will save you a lot of time.  

But back to the original intention of this blog...  

The “not yet” is the stretching place of transition like walking in the desert with a sandstorm attempting to reach land and water, only finding that you are still miles away from the destination. The “not yet” is the place where our hearts are emptied, tenderized, and purified. The world has a really good way of muddying the waters where we can’t see vision, we don’t feel valuable because someone told us we weren’t, and disappointment has planted itself so deep in the soul of our hearts that there is a filter over our eyes and we can’t see the goodness of God or what He wants to do in our lives. Friend, I have been in the place. I have been healed in this place. And I have overcome this place.  

I have this vision that I am wandering in the desert. I am walking in this desolate place. No food, no water, no land in sight. All I have been clinging to is the Word of the Lord. The questions start pouring from my heart as I wander. Where are you? Where are you taking me? When will we make it, Lord? Suddenly, I see his nail torn hands reach into the dusty, desert place. Jesus grabs me by the hands. In that moment, the mission to reach the destination, to “get out” of my current place, everything that I have wrestled with slowly fades away. All I can think about is the safety I feel as my beloved takes my hand. I lose track of time; I stop worrying about getting to where we are going. I melted into trust. Trusting the God of the universe who takes us by the hand, who is patient with us when we don’t understand, who delights in us when all we have done is broken His heart.  

What a savior, a king, our eternal high priest, our bridegroom. This is who I have known Him to be. This is who He is, whether you believe it or not. 

Recently, I have felt like God comes through for everyone else, but He doesn’t come through for me. There is a level of pain we must wrestle through in realizing our life is not what we thought it would be when we thought it would happen. We must walk these questions out with Him. He does not promise understanding, but He does promise peace in the midst of the season we find ourselves in. And we can trust Him implicitly in it.  

If you find yourself stuck in between the now and the not yet. Be encouraged. He has not left you, friend. He is trustworthy. Romans 8:28 tells us, “ And we know in all things God works all things together for the good of those who love him who are called according to His purposes.” 

If you find yourself discouraged about 2023, thinking “God, I really thought it would be this year.” “God, I really believed that you were going to come through this year.” I want you to imagine the nails in His hands, His hands that are leading you. The same hands that knit you in your mother’s womb. Imagine these hands. Jesus did everything He set out to do. He was obedient unto death. The cross tells us that God makes good on His promises. And these hands will never leave you and will lead you into 2024, if you let Him.  

On Christmas Eve this year, I heard the pastor say this, “God’s promises rest on His integrity, not our behavior.” His promises are as good as Christmas. Never late, always on time, always faithful.  Continue to believe Him, His heart for you is steadfast.

Psalm 27: 13-14 “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!”

If you, yourself, are in a wilderness place, His hands are reaching out to you. And you will find that He is the oasis you have been looking for the entire time.  

I bless you on your journey of becoming in 2024.  

xx J