We’re in between seasons here in Ohio, in that transition phase between winter and spring. It’s not as cold as it was. Thank God! I think it was below zero more than it was above this year. But it’s not warm yet either.
Trust me. I’ve sat bundled up with coats and blankets at two track meets now. It might be above zero, but it’s not quite warm.
This time between seasons should have a name. It’s a mini-season. It usually only lasts a few weeks. But it feels so much longer than that.
Nothing really fits in this season. Nothing is pretty. Nothing is really comfortable. No flowers are blooming. There are buds on the trees but no leaves. It’s too warm for boots but too cold for regular shoes. You’ll sweat in a sweater but freeze in just a tshirt. It’s warm’ish outside, but you can’t open your windows.
There’s the promise of spring but no actual proof of it yet. Only hope it’ll actually happen because it’s always come before. You feel stuck in the middle.
It’s easy to complain about it. To be negative. Edgy even. You aren’t where you were but you’re not where you want to be either.
It can be this way with the in-between seasons of life too. One season isn’t quite over and the next one isn’t starting yet. You aren’t here or there. And you definitely aren’t where you want to be.
Stuck in the Middle
It can get old fast, and it’s easy to get impatient. That’s when you need to stay watchful, guard your heart, and pray for grace.
But the people grew impatient with the long journey, and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna! So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people…” (Numbers 21:4-5)
They were in between seasons. They were no longer slaves in Egypt (hallelujah!) but they weren’t in the Promised Land yet. They grew impatient and they let everyone know they weren’t happy!
“There’s nothing to eat or drink here. We hate this horrible manna!”
Wow! Think about that.
They had seen with their own eyes water coming from a rock. Twice. They quenched their thirst with it.
Every morning they woke up to manna blanketing the ground. Manna! A sweet wafer that tasted like honey.
God didn’t sprinkle the ground with something that tasted awful. He gave them sweet bread from heaven. They tasted a miracle from the hand of God every day. And yet….
It wasn’t good enough for them. In fact, they said here they hated it.
Why?
Impatience. They were so focused on where they weren’t yet, in a land flowing with milk and honey, that they grew to hate the miracles. (Let that sink in for a minute.)
They weren’t thankful for His presence guarding them day and night. They weren’t grateful for His daily provision. Actually, they sounded more like entitled, whiny brats.
That’s when I had my own little attitude check. (And trust me…I needed one!)
“Lord, I’m thankful that it’s not 30 below for this track meet. I’m so glad that the air doesn’t hurt my face when I walk outside anymore, AND I have a house to protect me from the elements. I’m so thankful!”
And that wasn’t the only attitude check I needed. Once you complain about one thing, it can unleash a negative attitude about everything. Nothing is good enough. Not your job or your house or your clothes or your car or…or…or…
It doesn’t help, you know. Complaining doesn’t help. When they complained, God didn’t turn to them in compassion and say, “I didn’t realize you hated manna. Here, let me get you something else.”
No. Complaining didn’t soften His heart to their impatient plight. Remember the poisonous snakes? The only fix for the snakes was to look up at the brass serpent, which represented Jesus, and fix their gaze on it to be healed.
God has a plan for you every day of your life. When you focus on what’s lacking, you will miss today’s miracles. You will miss the connections and assignments He has planned for you right now.
Every season has a beginning….AND…..every season has an end. Even the mini-season between winter and spring. Even the season of life you find yourself in right now. Your situation is temporary, even though it feels endless.
You won’t be where you are forever. New doors will open and a fresh season will come.
Don’t miss the purpose and destiny of today. Keep your chin up, your focus on the right thing, and be thankful in whatever season you find yourself. Spring really is right around the corner.
It’s just a matter of time.