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 and high school choirs and loved it. I also tried out for a high school ensemble group and had fun singing all around our hometown. After I got married, I led worship and enjoyed feeling the presence of God. But now, everything has changed.

A couple of years ago, I joined the church choir at a church we were 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. It became increasingly difficult to project my voice and a constant hoarseness crept in. I new the vocal chords were probable inflamed so I just rested them. I thought to myself that it wasn’t all a loss because I had the option to play the piano instead. However, that too brought pain caused by an injury from a car accident.

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 or play the piano again. What do I do now?

As I died to self, I surrendered my love of music and my desire to share that gift back to God. Not knowing what the future held, I realizing that one chapter in my life was over and I was now entering the “in between” season. During this time, I found myself reflecting on the memories that once filled my days, while wondering what the future will hold.

What Causes Transition Seasons in Our Lives?

There are many reasons we may go through transitions in life. We are in between what has been and what will be. Many times, it can be a time of mourning over the familiar daily rhythm of our lives. Other times, it can be a time of joy and excitement over what God wants to do in our lives. 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 a new purpose
• In between depression and happiness
• In between newly married and expecting your first child

How do you Find Purpose in the Waiting Season?

Finding purpose in the waiting season can be difficult. 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. Life in this season sometimes feels directionless, like wandering through the fog with no clear path in sight. Questions may arise in your mind like: God, are you done with me? Did I fail you? What do you want me to do next? If we are not careful, we can begin to lose our purpose and fall down a deep pit of despair.

Oftentimes, this waiting period is not the absence of progress; but a time for growth in our lives. Even when it feels like God is done with you, He is working behind the scenes preparing a good future for you. Don’t put a period where God is still writing the sentence.

Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV says: “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?

1. 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 right now, but God is 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.”

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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 who ask.

Get into the Word of God. The Bible will illuminate your path and provide guidance when things seem unclear.

5. 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 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.”

6. 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 vicious cycle of remembering 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.