There was always a day that I didn’t know what to do. It was the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday… in South America that day is called Alleluia Saturday and it was one of those rare days in which we didn’t have church activity. After the long services on Good Friday and waiting for the even longer services on Easter Sunday we had a day in which we could plan it ourselves. So, our youth group decided so make it special by having the boys and the girls separated, planning different activities. The girls usually thought on events that will see them visiting nursing homes, or maybe the elderly people in the church, sometimes having their own quiet worship times and dinner… well, the boys planned the same activity year after year: to enrage our catholic neighbours by making a BBQ. The joys of having the lowest prices of the year and a free day! We had amazing BBQs that would usually turn into great conversations and a self-indulgent reflection of the great freedom that came with being Protestants… We quietly had the same tradition this last Saturday, as I was preparing the meat with a smile on my face as I remember those times. Oh, the times in-between. These are the moments in our lives when we are waiting for something to happen, when we are in a state of uncertainty, and when we are not sure what the future holds. The times in-between can be frustrating, scary, and even lonely, but they can also be moments of great spiritual growth and transformation.

In the Bible, we see many examples of people who experienced times of waiting and uncertainty. Abraham waited for many years for a son, Moses spent years in the wilderness before he was called to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, and the disciples waited for the Holy Spirit to come after Jesus ascended into heaven. But one of the disciples found himself in his own in-between time, not quite in the waiting for the Holy Spirit yet, but waiting for the conformation that the Lord had resurrected. Our good friend Thomas needed some help. These stories remind us that waiting is a normal part of the Christian journey, and that more often than not, we will find ourselves needing help.

So, what can we do when we find ourselves in the times in-between? How can we make the most of these moments and grow in our faith?

First, we can turn to God in prayer. Prayer is one of the most powerful tools we have as Christians, and it can help us to find peace and strength in the midst of uncertainty. We can pray for guidance, for wisdom, and for the courage to trust in God's plan for our lives. As Jesus said in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Sometimes the prayer is for patience, sometimes for a sign, sometimes for a bit more grace, sometimes simply for the strength to hold on. But it is usually prayer that help us to turn our attention and focus into the right person, the only one with the answers that really matter. The disciples kept telling Thomas about Jesus showing to them, but Thomas needed more; and Jesus gave him more. First, the words that bring calm to the soul: Peace be with you. And then, the gift: put your finger here. Stop doubting and believe!

Second, we can read and meditate on scripture. The Bible is filled with stories of people who experienced times of waiting and uncertainty, and these stories can give us hope and encouragement in our own journey. We can also turn to passages that remind us of God's love, grace, and faithfulness. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Thomas could have remember the many times Jesus had told them about the need for the Messiah to die, but also that he would return. He could have remember the prophecies of the past, and found comfort and faith and hope in those words. In times in between we may neglect one of the most important dynamics in our lives: to read, to study, to meditate in the Scriptures.

Third, we can connect with other Christians. The times in-between can be lonely, but we do not have to face them alone. We can turn to our church community for support, encouragement, and prayer. We can also seek out Christian friends who have gone through similar experiences and can offer guidance and wisdom. Thomas had run away like all the other disciples. But he returned, he found the strength to walk those steps back and to meet his friends… it takes courage, it takes humility, it takes the recognition that we cannot walk this journey alone. It was in that place of community that Thomas heard the story, and it was in that place of grace in which he confessed his doubts, and it was in that place of love in which the Lord spoke to him. Church is a living organism, a community, a plural, I am not the church, we are.

Finally, we can trust in God's plan. It can be tempting to try to take control of our lives when we are in the times in-between, but we must remember that God is in control. We can trust in his plan for our lives, even when we do not understand it. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." It doesn’t surprise me that some of the disciples decided to go back to fishing, even after seeing Jesus. They thought they knew the plan, that they understood what was going to happen, but they didn’t. the events of Easter were not expected, and a lot of what was revealed about their character in the running, the hiding and the doubting wasn’t great. So, they decided to go back to what they knew. What felt safe, familiar, ordinary. Not great dreams about the freedom of the country or the transformation of the world. But Jesus found them even there and reach out to them again. God wasn’t done with them, as God isn’t done with us. In these in-between times God may be inviting us to reimagine our future with Him. And that future may be greater, and more dangerous, and more significant than anything else we could have imagined by ourselves.

In conclusion, my dear brothers and sisters, the times in-between can be difficult, but they can also be moments of great spiritual growth and transformation. As we turn to God in prayer, read and meditate on scripture, connect with other Christians, and trust in God's plan, we can navigate these times with faith and courage, knowing that God is with us every step of the way. And let’s invite God to once again enlarge our vision, stretch our faith and prepare our hearts to what will come next.