Today is the day in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday (Thailand timezone). No one really observes it or celebrates it (at least I don't think). Yet during prayer time this morning, I couldn't help but think how special it means for our family right now.
You see, not much is written about the day in between in the Bible. We know that on Good Friday Jesus died an agonizing death on the cross and all his disciples scattered. We also know that on Easter Sunday the tomb was empty because Jesus rose from the dead and conquered sin and death for all who place their faith in him. But what about the day in between? We do know that it was the Sabbath (a day of rest). And we do know that it was a time of waiting for Jesus' disciples and followers (a time of waiting dominated with much doubt, I may add, because we know many still did not believe after they were told that Jesus rose from the dead - Matt. 28:17, Mark 16:11).
Not necessarily for everyone, but this 2nd year in the field feels like the "day in between" for us. There is much waiting and much anticipation. But if we are honest, we allow doubt to creep in many times as well. With unexpected changes in ministry situations, lack of success in finding a home to rent, struggles with language learning & making relationships with people, and frustrations with being sick, sometimes it is easy to question whether we should really be here at all. In many ways, we are still incapable of doing much in the 2nd year because of our limitations with language and ministry (although we know that God can do great things in the midst of limitations). It is a humbling because we catch ourselves comparing what we did (and are capable of doing) before coming to the field and what we do (and are capable of doing) now that we are in the field. And we need to surrender everything all over again unto God. Perhaps what is most emotionally draining right now is not having a place to unpack, decorate, and call home (and seeing the toll it takes on our children as well).
Yet we believe that God has a purpose for everything. Jesus could have died on the cross and just rose from the grave the very next day. Why add the day in between? I've always believed that Jesus is a great story-teller or movie-maker. Just like added suspense in a movie makes it all the more dramatic, perhaps the added day in between makes the story more meaningful. Perhaps God is teaching our family a lesson in waiting and suffering right now. A lesson that is for our benefit "because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us" (Rom. 5:3-4). But waiting is never fun, whether waiting in a long grocery line, waiting at the police station after a car accident, or waiting to find a home to rent.
But I believe God has called us to wait and persevere right now. And so that is just what we will do. But don't be mistaken! Waiting is not equated to doing nothing. It is possible to "actively" wait. We are called to "be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstance, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (2 Thess. 5:16). The disciplines of joy, prayer, and thanksgiving (among many others) are things we can actively do right now as we wait.
I believe that God has called us perhaps to a period of Sabbath (the day in between) as well. Sabbath is the ordained day of rest that God has set aside for us to observe. But don't be mistaken again! The Sabbath of the OT and the NT are not the same. As J.I. Packer puts it so eloquently in his book Concise Theology, "the sabbath is renewed with a casuistry of doing good rather than doing nothing (Luke 13:10-16; 14:1-6), and re-counted, on the basis of one-plus-six rather than six-plus-one" (pg. 101). Therefore, worship (i.e. the "Lord's day" or Christian sabbath) comes at the beginning of the week rather than at the end of the week. And it is preoccupied with filling our minds with more of him rather than just filling our minds with fun relaxing activities or no activities (although this is not always bad if it helps us to be still before God) because ultimately our rest (and our peace) comes from God and God alone, and not from anything else in this world. And so perhaps for our family right now, this means spending more time getting to know God through his Word and the world he created, and spending more time enjoying Him through personal worship.
And so maybe today is worth commemorating - as a time of finding true rest in God and as a time of waiting upon His faithfulness. For we know that "no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ. And so through him the 'Amen' is spoken by us to the glory of God" (2 Cor. 1:20).
Happy "In-Between" Day!
