A few weeks ago, I heard a lady say, “Happy In-Between!”

It took me a moment to figure out what she meant.

I finally realized that she was referring to the time after Christmas but before New Year’s. We don’t really have a term to describe the awkward period between these two holidays, so this lady settled on “In-Between,” and hoped we’d have a happy time during it.

It got me thinking about the other “in-between” times in our lives.

Many of us go through times when we’re in an awkward phase of waiting for something to happen.

Perhaps we believe God has given us a promise about something He will do in our lives, but it’s taking a long time to come to pass.

Maybe we’re trusting God for a healing, a new job, the restoration of a marriage, or the return of a prodigal child.

It can be hard to stay happy during a time of limbo, when nothing seems to be happening in our situation. As the months go by, our prayers don’t seem any closer to being answered.

So what do we do when we’re having trouble staying upbeat, faithful, and patient during the in-between times, when life just seems to be a hard slog?

We turn to Scripture to buoy us up and to show us that God is indeed at work in our lives. Here are some of my favourites on this topic:

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)

“But He answered them, ‘My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.’ ” (John 5:17)

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

”The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever.” Another translation puts this: “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” (Psalm 138:8a)

“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b)

“Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

On a global scale, the whole world is in an “in-between” time, too. We’re in the period between the birth of Jesus and His second coming. While we wait, we have to endure the corrosive effects of sin on the world, and the longing for God to put things right. But He has promised that He will do so, at the right time: we have His Word on that.

So grasp firmly the Scriptural promises that God is indeed at work in the world, and in your life in particular.

They will help you to stay faithful, resolute, and yes, even happy during the in-between times!

© 2022 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.