With You in the Liminal

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Psalm 16:5-8

We are now 17 days post Easter – 17 days since we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection and the empty tomb. During the time between the resurrection and the ascension, Jesus spent 40 days appearing and ministering to people: His disciples, believers, and various others. The Bible tell us that over 500 people witnessed Him alive.

Just for a minute, put yourself there during that time (the end of the gospels, going up to Acts 1). You’re a believer, or maybe even one of the disciples. You’ve witnessed your Lord’s death. You are hearing rumors that other believers have seen Jesus alive, or perhaps you met Mary in the upper room as she exclaimed “He’s alive!” in Luke 24 but didn’t believe yet. Or maybe you ran with Peter to the tomb in verse 12, saw the empty grave but left wondering what had really happened.

Perhaps you were there on the road to Emmaus and your heart burned as He spoke but didn’t realize it was Jesus. Maybe you were there when He appeared to Thomas, and your own doubts were eliminated. Or you were at the table with Him when He said, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised.”

Or maybe you’re still waiting to see Him.

Imagine how the disciples must have felt during that time. They heard what Jesus had told them at the Last Supper. But they had to be so confused, witnessing Jesus’ death and waiting for the promise. They were at a threshold of transition – in the liminal space – with one foot in reality of what had just happened and the other waiting to witness the miracle for themselves.

Liminal space is a temporary space in between where you’ve been and where you are going – like a doorway, a stairwell or hallway. Liminal spaces are not meant to be “lived in” or for us to linger in. They are temporary spaces. Liminal space can be caused by many things:

Grieving the loss of a loved one or a friendship or a marriage
Moving to a new place
Loss of a job or the start of a new one
An unexpected diagnosis or prognosis
A family crisis
Depression
Poverty
A global pandemic
Social unrest or injustice

Throughout scripture we see people who went through liminal spaces:

Abraham – while he waited for God’s promise to be fulfilled
Joseph – sold into slavery, falsely accused, imprisoned
Moses – raised under a false pretense, killing a man and running away
The Israelites – so many times – their time in Egypt, the wilderness, exile, or during the 400 years of silence before Jesus was born.
Ruth and Naomi
Gideon – waiting on God’s answer
Samuel
Esther
Job – his entire life was in the liminal
David – when he worked in the service of King Saul
Daniel – As he waited in the lions den
Hosea
Jonah – as he ran from God’s calling
Zechariah – waiting for his speech to return
Mary, the mother of Jesus during her pregnancy
John the Baptist – in prison
Paul – in prison
John – in exile

I can imagine the believers and disciples may have felt many liminal moments after the death of their Lord, their friend.

But when they finally saw Jesus, He dispelled their doubts, He met them in their confusion, He ministered to their grief. He continued to teach them even in the waiting.

Many different things can force us into a liminal space. Maybe you find yourself there today. No one person’s journey is the same. And it takes time to get through those spaces. There’s no definitive time frame or perfect formula. But there is still Jesus! Who is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

While we don’t have Jesus physically, walking or talking here among us, He is here! He still is the risen, living Lord! Our hearts still burn as He speaks to us through His Word and through the Holy Spirit – which was promised to us and did fall on the Day of Pentecost!

We also have God’s Word which is full of promises that we can apply to our lives today.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:1-4

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.
Proverbs 3:5-6

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Philippians 1:6

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Isaiah 26:3

But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 43:1

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:10

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
1 John 5:14

Come near to God and he will come near to you.
James 4:8

This is not an exhaustive list! There are endless promises in God’s Word that still apply to us today!

If you are finding yourself in the liminal space today, I encourage you to turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and let the things of earth grow dim in the light of His glory and grace. Allow Jesus to meet you where you are and walk you through.

God bless you!