Trusting God in the In Between
Being a teenage or young adult is a wonderfully exciting time in life; there are many exciting changes and new experiences to live through. Finishing high school, first jobs, dating. Maybe college, buying a house, or chasing a few dreams. Friendships are often tested and strengthened during this stage of life, and we often wrestle with many deeper issues and questions of life. For me, this was also a time to wrestle with my faith. No longer could it rest on the care and guidance of my parents, it was my responsibility to take and make it my own.
In amongst all this busy time of growth and change, it can be easy to feel lost in the “limbo” of waiting. As teens and young adults, we are being prepared to reach our full potential in God’s world through educational pursuits, job experiences, various phases of dating or singlehood. So much potential waiting for us just out of reach. I often find it taunting to see the fruits of my labor so close, yet just out of reach.
Preparation is a wonderful thing, it provides us with an array of resources to begin life in God’s world. But what about the in between season? DURING the preparation stage. How do we keep from being discouraged, bored, or faithless while waiting for the next phase of life to begin?
One of the more common stories we think of in regards to waiting is that of Abraham and Sarah in Genesis 12-21. God first reveals His plan to Abraham in Genesis 12 saying “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. (vs. 2)” This takes place when Abraham is 75 years old and CHILDLESS on his way to a land he did not know. It is not until he is 100 years old that Issac is finally born (Genesis 21:1-5). Abraham and Sarah went through 25 years of waiting, preparation, and uncomfortable learning before God’s promise was finally realized. This required (for me) an unfathomable amount of patience, trust, and peace in God to make it through such a time. Abraham and Sarah weren’t perfect, they made plenty of mistakes along their journey of waiting, but the important part is that they never gave up on God.
Merrium Webster defines patience as “steadfast despite opposition, difficulty, or adversity.” Put simply, patience is when you remain unshaken, unmoved, or strong despite circumstances or frustrations which seek to remove you from this foundation. In times of waiting or “limbo,” it is easy to desire a quicker or easier path leading to the desired outcome, or even to feel “out of control.” It is uncomfortable to sit with a lack of control or easy route forward. BUT, God does not leave us without benefit to this endurance.
James 1:2-4 states:
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James assures his audience here that even though they will face times of discomfort or even pain, that it will pass and result in greater endurance/contentment and will make them whole. It is also important to note that this endurance is a choice to be made. Finding joy and thankfulness in times of frustration is not easy, but it is a daily choice well worth making. Hebrews 12:1-2 reminds us that we are not alone in this walk. There are countless hosts – including our Savior – who have walked though their own deserts of waiting. AND THEY OVERCAME! Patient is not just a way to describe someone who never seems to be rattled by the worries of life, it is a DAILY choice we are given to make. A choice to accept and find value in every breath God gives, and wherever he chooses to put in our path.
Along with patience, Abraham and Sarah also had to trust that God would ultimately follow through with His promises. Through their grounded patience, they held strong through their season of waiting. But it was their trust that afforded them peace in their situation. There were times when their trust was not as strong, times when they felt lost, forgotten, or even slighted by God, yet they pressed forward in fulfilling His guidance. Trust is a deeper form of patience, it is a peace which rests, a safe place to shed the burden of waiting and fear. The Psalmist often highlights the importance of trust throughout the book.
Psalm 37:4-7 calls us to:
“Trust in the LORD, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!”
In Psalm 56:3, David pleas with God, and praises Him for being a refuge in times of fear. Finally in Psalm 143:8, David cites that it is his trust in God which drives him to further seek the will and knowledge of God.
Trust is another character which does not come easily, yet its intentional practice certainly brings about peace to the faithful. For when we trust, we realize that we are no longer forced to remained burdened with the worries or bounty of the future. We can know that it rests in the hand of the Creator, and simply align our focus to the moments we are given now.
“4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:4-8
It is easier said than done to not let our minds wander to worry, concern, or dream about the future. There is something that is so enticing about the uncertainty of the future. But as Christian women, we cannot allow ourselves to become so wrapped up in what lies ahead, that we forget to see the beauty and blessing of the present moment God has granted. In Philippians 4:8, Paul gives a list of qualities to test our thoughts against, stating that things with these merits are what deserve our primary attentions. It is the practice of meditating on these things which bring the Christian back to remembrance of the gifts God has given NOW, and what it coming soon.
After several verses of reflecting on various physical needs that the faithless Gentiles are known to “worry” over, Jesus summarizes his thought at the end of Matthew 6 by stating “32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
God knows exactly what you need, even before you ask it! He sees you in frustration or discouragement, but He also knows what is coming will be so much better than you can imagine. Give yourself grace as you sit in this season of waiting, prepare your heart to rest in whatever may come. Trust is God’s guidance by leaning more deeply into His Word.
Sweet girl, your time is coming! All those dreams, worries, and unknowns will come just as they always have. But during this time of waiting, look around, see what bounty God has already given and praise Him for it. Pray that God might prepare your heart for what is coming, but also help you to enjoy the blessings of today. Look for friends and mentors who will sit with you in discouragement, and remind you that it only lasts for a moment. Study to know God’s plan deeper, train yourself to see the opportunities He sends now.
My hobbies include crafting, cooking/grilling, and hiking. Spending time with my friends is my favorite way to do anything. My favorite Bible verse is Philippians 4:6-8. It reminds me that God's peace is always greater if I so seek it. I can't wait to see what all good comes from Beyond The Foam!
- I Love You, But I Do Not Like You - March 12, 2026
- Trusting God in the In Between - February 10, 2026
- Count Your Many Blessings – Even the Ones You Can’t See - February 9, 2026
Welcome! We are so glad you stopped by. Come Fill Your Cup is a group of Christian ladies dedicated to equipping women for study and service. We know you are busy and that life’s hectic pace pulls you in so many directions, but you can’t truly be the woman God desires unless you take time to fill your own cup…not with spa days (though we love a good spa!) or the latest novel…but with God’s Holy Word. We want to help you with that! Our goal is to reach you in the midst of your busy day and give you encouragement, education, and fellowship as you strive to live the life God has laid before you. Our prayer is that we can help fill your cup so that you, in turn, can overflow to all those around you. So, as we like to say…come fill your cup, and let it overflow!
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