Life in the “In-Betweens”
The new year has arrived, and the season of holiday-feast-driven stretchy pants will eventually come to an end. As for now, we are “in between”—in between academic semesters, harvest and planting, bred heifers and springing heifers, stated resolutions and realized resolutions, fresh vision and realized vision, and perhaps most importantly, college football’s semi-final games and championship games… but I digress.
We are constantly living in between the past and the future, the old and the new, what was and what will be, and the first and the last. Beginnings are but a moment, and endings become historical snapshots. But our energies are primarily spent in between. Regardless of our life season, it is primarily what happens in the in-betweens that grows our grit, reveals our resolve, and casts our character.
I am moved by what happened with Mary, Joseph, and Jesus during their family’s first in-between, namely, in between the advent of Jesus’ birth and their eventual return to Nazareth as recorded in the second chapter of Matthew. I am in awe at the wise men’s resolve and sacrifice to find and worship the newborn Messiah (Matt. 2:1-12). I am comforted that God preordained a plan to protect Joseph, Mary, and Jesus in Egypt (Matt. 2:13-15, Hos. 11:1). I am silenced by the overwhelming lament of parents upon Herod’s massacre of the young innocents (Matt. 2:16-18). I am thankful that God gave safety and direction to Joseph, Mary, and Jesus by letting them know it was safe to return to Israel (Matt. 2:19-23).
However, I am most encouraged by what Joseph practically did during this in-between season. He listened intently to God, and he obediently acted upon God’s direction and prompting. When God told him to take his family to Egypt, Joseph did just that (Matt. 2:14). When God told him to take his family back to Israel, he obeyed (Matt. 2:14, 21). Oh, to simply hear and obey the words of God!
May we glean this deceivingly simple lesson from Joseph regarding our in-betweens. Oh, that we would attentively adhere to God’s word and obey his prompting in our lives. This year, may we daily spend and enjoy time hearing from God in his word. May we daily experience the grace and strength to follow his promptings. May we experience the rewarding satisfaction of living in surrender to our Lord and Savior throughout life’s beginnings, endings, and in-betweens.
Happy New Year!