Time in Between

Well, school has officially started, and I've got 2 full day under my belt. It's been quite a challenge for me to adjust to going to bed at a decent time again, and signing offline earlier means less opportunities to chat with friends in Peru. I'm missing a few of them terribly right now.

Last night, as I sat reading a test strategies book a friend lent me, my eyes burned with tears for no reason at all. As I sat, wishing the tears away, my heart ached and my mind wandered to memories of friends, of the children, and of my church in Peru. I miss being a part of that community. Tonight I spent some time outdoors just enjoying the calm, quiet evening. I spent time in prayer, and God led me to a verse in Colossians 2:6-7 which says, "just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." He also brought to my mind a song by Francesa Battistelli called, "The Time in Between". Here's the lyrics that specifically struck a chord within me tonight:


Don't take much for this crazy world 

To rob me of my peace
And the enemy of my soul
Says You’re holding out on me
So I stand here lifting empty hands
For you to fill me up again

But it’s the time in between
That I fall down to my knees
Waiting on what You'll bring
And the things that I can't see
I know my song’s incomplete
Still I'll sing in the time in between

I quickly recalled a conversation I had with a friend on Sunday. We talked about how we both know we will not be in this area forever, and how grateful we are to have this "time in between" to spend with our families, loving on them and creating memories with them.

So many times Satan attacks me and fills me with these feelings of emptiness and longing. I often feel that I'm just here, wasting time, waiting until the Lord takes me back to Peru. I cry out to Him with many questions, and often find myself waiting for a response. However, God is not holding out on me, and often I fail to realize that. This "time in between" is necessary for the Lord to shape me and mold me into the person He needs me to be. He's given me this time to grow spiritually, professionally, and personally so that when I make it to Peru, I'm ready to be used in whatever way He has planned for me.

He's given me this time to enjoy my family, minister to those around me, and share His unfailing love with the dear children I teach each day. My prayer tonight is that I not waste a moment in this town. God has plans for me here far bigger than I can imagine, plans that I cannot see. During these next weeks, months, and years here in Indiana, I am going to life my empty hands and sing praise to the Lord because I know that He is not finished with me yet.

And when the time is right, I will be able to take memories of this place with me back to Peru to sustain me during my time there. This time, here and now, may be the most crucial days of my life and I don't want to miss a beat.