There's this no-man's-land we all experience between Christmas and New Year's.
What day is it?
Should we still be listening to Christmas songs?
Is there anything other than leftovers to eat?
This is a time of year when we're strangely fumbling between the end and the beginning. Like an oddly shaped sweater that is too tight around the neck and too long in the arms that we are trying our best to make work—these days just don't fit us right. It's because they are the in-between.
Seven of the strangest days of the entire year.
In so many ways, this is a picture of our lives. We're balanced between the now and the not yet—what has been and what will be. It's a strange combination of who we are now and who Christ is beckoning us to become. Living on planet Earth as refugees trying to get home to Heaven. We spend our entire lives trying to make this living in the in-between work, but it just doesn't fit us right. Our souls subconsciously know this is not what we were made for. There is more, and in the bedrock of our souls, we know this is not it.
And yet, we live our entire life in the in-between.
As the people of God, we've been living in some kind of in-between since Adam and Eve left paradise. Even now, we're stuck between the end of what was at Jesus' ascension and are desperately looking ahead to what will come at His triumphant return when he will make all things new.
While we wish we weren't in this odd state of limbo, we can rest in the assurance that Jesus hasn't left us and that his presence is with us every day. If this year and this blog and this book have taught us anything, it's that he is with us in the waiting, no matter how mundane or miraculous.
In these in-between days before Jesus returns, there certainly are things that we wish were not true. There is still pain, things left unhealed, and a weary world that is splitting at the seams. Nonetheless, in this in-between, there is still hope in knowing, as J.R.R. Tolkien said, "the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus means that one day everything sad will come untrue."
Yes! A time is coming when he will set all things right. This is the hope we cling to.
"I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new!” -Revelation 21:3-5 (TLB)
✨ How We Wait Today
Soon.
Soon, Fellow Wait-er, He will come again and set this world and everything in it right. Our waiting will be over. We will be home. The in-between will be no more.
Until that time, like we long for January after the seven strangest days of the year at the end of December, may we also look ahead to a kind of January in our souls where, for now, he wants to work new things in us until the time of His return.
Here's to all of us in the in-between and those longing for a January of soul.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.
-TLB
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((It's not too late - start your 2024 with a new devotional or use it as a group study with friends. Order your copy of Waiting On Wonders, 40-Days of Wonder Devotional at Amazon or get a signed, jacketed hardback special edition copy HERE ✨
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