The Land Between

It could have happened in a few days, but it took 40 years!

The move from Egypt to Canaan was interrupted by The Land Between. The desert wilderness became the "temporary" home of 2 million Israelites. That wilderness was not a pleasant place. As a matter of fact, it was a very difficult place!

Many of us find ourselves in a personal wilderness... The Land Between. For some, we arrived there slowly and almost imperceptibly. For others, we got there suddenly when we received that awful phone call, made that surprise discovery, etc. No matter how it happened, here we are, in a dry, lonely, discouraging, trying, place.

Almost no one gets through life without one "wilderness" experience. If you haven't been there yet, there's a pretty good chance you will at some point. Some are in that place just briefly, others are there for "40 years"!

Pastor Jeff Manion, of the Ada Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has authored a book entitled, The Land Between. In it he gives five things that happen while we are in that place. He draws on the account of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings to help us understand our own wilderness experience. I recently heard Pastor Manion bring a talk by that title. It was powerful and helpful.

I have not posted to this blog for nearly three months. I am experiencing my own "land between" time in life. I am not ready to write extensively about it yet because I am still very much there. I will make a couple of observations and comment on Pastor Manion's list of five in my next post.

Here are a few quick observations...

• No doubt about it, the land between has been the hardest experience of my life! That's not whining, it's a fact.
• I am learning afresh the truth that God is faithful and sufficient! Now that I am in a fire of trial and at the end of my resources, it is not another cliche, it is an awesome reality. God really has shown up in so many ways, at so many times. I am amazed at some of them!
  
• I am discovering that I have a few real friends who love me for who I am, not just for what I believe or do. Those friends have persevered with me over time, have been consistent, and have been there in practical ways. They were there in the good times and now are there in the tough times.
• God's Word has been a source of comfort and support. It is powerful!
• The spiritual things that were in place in my life before the trial got hot have proven true in the trial. I am thankful.

I am not at the end of the land between, it is not even in sight at this point. However, I know that God will never leave or forsake me. I know that good things are happening in this desert. More about that in the next post...