Mind the Gap

Here in Madrid, the metro plays a recording over and over on a loop, reminding you that some stations are on a curve, so be careful of the gap between the metro car and the platform as you step out. I've heard it thousands of times; I think I could recite that sentence in Spanish in my sleep!

Recently I read something that began, "Is there a gap between where you are and where you want to be?" It stood out to me for two reasons: one, because I hear that line about the gap repeatedly and two, because, let's face it... who doesn't have a gap right now between what we're actually doing and what we want to be doing? On any given day, what I'm actually doing is virtual meetings, instead of meeting in person. I'm staying home when I want to be spending time with others. I'm still figuring out virtual church ministry, when face-to-face ministry is definitely preferable. Many of you are doing virtual school, telecommuting, and vaccination appointments may identify. Of course there's a gap between what I'm doing, and what I want to be doing!

But that gap is the space where the Holy Spirit steps in; it's the gap where we walk by faith and not by sight. It's the gap where God parts the Red Sea or stops the Jordan River or delivers miraculously--even if it's just the simple wisdom that He gives when you don't even know what the next step should be.

The trouble with that gap is that we usually try to fill it ourselves, with our pathetic attempts to control everything, manipulate the circumstances, and use our own intelligence to drive our plans. That gap creates fear-- is God aware of my troubles? Or worse, is God going to leave me alone in this?

But Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that FAITH pleases God, not our own solutions to the gap between where we are and where we want to be. He doesn't reward my fantastic ability to strategize or applaud your attempts to wrangle the details. He rewards those who seek HIM.

And as for that curve in life that gaps before me, He is what fills the empty space.