Pressing the send button on my email, I felt a wave of sorrow overwhelm me. Music, after all, has been my whole life. I remember my first piano lesson at the age of eight and how much I enjoyed playing each key, which, pressed together in the right way, would make beautiful music. I loved to sing. I joined the junior high, high school and church choirs and thrived. I sang on worship teams and loved it. After getting married and becoming senior pastors, I led worship and enjoyed feeling the presence of God. But now, everything has changed.
I joined the choir at the church we have been attending since stepping down from senior pastoring. I was so excited to be part of a ministry that shared my passion for music. However, I quickly noticed pain in my vocal chords as I attempted to reach the higher notes during services. With each high note sung, hoarseness wasn’t far behind, creeping in like an unwelcome guest. It became increasingly difficult to project my voice, and it got to the point that I became hoarse even while I talked. This became quite distressing. I knew this wasn’t good and that my vocal chords were inflamed again, reminding me of previous struggles with my singing. But, I thought to myself that it wasn’t all a loss because I had the option to play the piano instead. This had always been my first love. However, that endeavor too brought pain, especially in my finger that was injured in my car accident, a constant reminder of what I had endured. Each time I pressed down on the keys, I felt a pang that echoed the emotional turmoil of my recent past, adding to my frustration as I sought solace in music but found only further discomfort.
I couldn’t understand what was going on. Why did God give me a gift if I couldn’t use it anymore? Sorrow filled my mind as I realized I may not be able to sing and play the piano again. What do I do now?
As I died to self, I surrendered my love of music and my desire to use that gifting for Him. I sent my email to the worship leader stating that I had to step down, and shed tears of loss. Not knowing what the future held, I realized one chapter in my life was over and I was waiting in the “in between” season to see what the future held.
Reasons we may be in the “In Between”
Many times in our lives, we end one season and start a new one, often reflecting on the moments that defined the previous chapter. With each transition, we embrace change as we say farewell to familiar routines, relationships, and experiences. This cycle of endings and beginnings can be both unsettling and exciting.
There are many reasons we may go through transitions in life. We are in between what will be and what has been. We may be:
- In between careers.
- In between a failed relationship and wondering if you can love or trust again
- In between a diagnosis and a healing
- In between the death of a loved one and happiness again
- In between the ending of a ministry and the beginning of a new one
- In between being an empty nester and finding new purpose
- In between depression and happiness again
- In between anxiety and peace
How do you Find Purpose in the “In Between?”
Finding purpose in the waiting season is hard. There is a grieving over what once was; a longing for the past and for what brought meaning to our lives, and anxiety over what will be, creating a mix of emotions that can feel overwhelming. Life in this season sometimes feels directionless, like wandering through a fog with no clear path in sight. You feel like a lost puppy trying to find its way home, desperately hearing from God if you’re headed in the right direction. Questions may rise up in your mind like: God, are you done with me? Did I fail you? These thoughts can echo loudly, making it hard to see the light ahead. But perhaps this waiting period is not just an absence of progress; but a transformative time for growth. It’s in these moments of uncertainty that we may feel the presence of God most deeply, preparing us for new chapters yet to come.
Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV says to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Trust Him when everything around you seems to be uprooted. Believe that He has a good plan for your life, even when everything around you is changing.
So how do you find purpose while you are waiting?
Believe that God will make a way.
God’s ways are not our ways. His plans are so much better. When one door has closed in your life, be prepared to see God move in ways you never could imagine. It may not make sense to you, but God is always working. Isaiah 55:8-9 says: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Trust that God’s ways are better….even if you have a hard time believing it right now.
Psalm 16:11 says: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” If you stay in the posture of prayer and being open to the new things God is doing, He will show you what your next steps are.
Focus on God’s truth and His promises to you.
Stay in the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and fill you with peace during your transition. Isaiah 26:3 says; “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” The only source of perfect peace in your “in between” seasons of life is the Lord. Allow Him to minister to you and show you His promises which He will always keep.
Seek God’s guidance and direction
Pray and seek God’s wisdom. James 1:5 ESV says “if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” God promises to generously give wisdom to all you ask.
Get into the word of God. The Bible will light your path and provide guidance when things seem unclear.
Trust in God’s Faithfulness
God is faithful and He will lead you in the right direction. He has not abandoned you or forgotten about you. He is not trying to hide His will from you, but wants you to seek Him with all your heart and trust in His word. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV says: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Worship While You’re Waiting
Worshipping in times of loss and uncertainty will keep our focus on God, who is steadfast and unchanging. It will help bring peace into our lives because our focus is no longer on the loss of what was, but instead, on the hope and strength that God provides. Worship can change our perspective, helping us to take our eyes off our stresses and focusing on the One who will make a way. Psalms 103:2 says: “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
Conclusion
Being in the time of transition or the “in between” is not easy. There is a feeling of loss for what has been so familiar, along with the uncertainty of what will be. During this period, we may wrestle with anxieties, doubts, and a sense of longing. We may feel as though we are adrift in an ocean of change without a clear direction. Oftentimes, we may find ourselves in an emotional mess over the losses, caught in a cycle of reminiscing about the past while fearing the future. We may even begin to think that things may never be the same, that our best days are behind us, leaving us with a sense of hopelessness. However, who is not to say that the best of days can very well be the days ahead of you, filled with new opportunities and experiences waiting to unfold. God is not finished with you and He has a good plan for your life. Embrace this season and rest knowing that the Author is still holding the pen.
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