Phil Strong

All about living a life of purpose on purpose

Tag: trusting God’s timing

  • Thriving In The In-Between (Part 5): 5 Anchors To Keep You Steady

    We’ve covered a lot of ground in this series.

    • The in-between is that tension between God’s promise spoken and God’s promise fulfilled.
    • Moses lived it.
    • You’re living it.
    • The enemy loves to attack you here.
    • But you’re fully equipped to win the battle.

    Now what?

    How do you actually live each day in the in-between with steadiness, peace, and confidence?

    In this final post, I want to give you five simple, practical anchors — habits that will keep your soul grounded when everything else feels uncertain.

    1️⃣ Engage In Spiritual Warfare

    Let’s be blunt: the in-between isn’t neutral ground.

    The enemy is working overtime to confuse, discourage, and derail you. You must fight back.

    • Declare God’s Word aloud daily.
    • Pray with intentionality.
    • Use Scripture to silence accusation.
    • Partner with others in prayer.

    “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7)

    The Pirate Dance (Reflect, Remind, Reset) is your spiritual warfare blueprint.

    2️⃣ Stay Close To Jesus

    When you’re in a fog, stay close to the Guide.

    You may not see very far ahead — but you don’t need to if you stay near Him.

    • Spend time daily in His presence.
    • Don’t overcomplicate it — simply sit with Him.
    • Worship, pray, listen.
    • Let His love fill you, stabilize you, and quiet you.

    “Abide in me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)

    Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is just be with Him.

    3️⃣ Lean On Your Trusted Circle

    You are not meant to walk this alone.

    In the in-between, you need:

    • Intercessors who will pray daily.
    • Armor bearers who carry your burdens.
    • Wise counsel who help you discern.

    “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

    Your circle isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity.

    4️⃣ Release Your Filters

    Here’s a hard truth:

    God rarely answers our prayers in the package we expect.

    Often, our greatest frustration in the in-between comes from holding too tightly to how we think God should move.

    “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)

    Let go of the filter. Surrender your expectations. Trust His process.

    God’s plan is always better — even if it’s different.

    5️⃣ Practice Stillness And Rest

    Sometimes, the greatest act of faith is to simply be still.

    • Sit in His presence.
    • Cast your cares on Him.
    • Declare: “It is well with my soul.”

    “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

    Stillness is not passivity — it’s powerful trust.

    The In-Between Is Where Your Faith Gets Real

    Let’s be honest: the in-between is hard.

    But it’s also sacred ground.

    This is where your faith matures.
    This is where your roots go deep.
    This is where your intimacy with Jesus is forged.

    And when you finally step into the fulfillment of God’s promises, you’ll carry with you the strength, character, and depth that could only be developed here.

    “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

    Bonus Challenge: Revisit The Series

    PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES:

    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 1): When God’s Promise Feels Delayed
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 2): Moses — The Leader Who Lived In The In-Between
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 3): The Four Emotional Vulnerabilities Of The In-Between
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 4): The Spiritual Battle Of The In-Between

    👉 If you haven’t yet, listen to my Coffee With Phil podcast episode for the full teaching.

  • Thriving In The In-Between (Part 4): The Spiritual Battle Of The In-Between

    By now, you’ve probably realized something:

    The in-between isn’t just hard — it’s a battle.

    It’s not simply waiting for God’s promises. It’s also resisting the enemy’s attacks while you wait.

    • Attacks on your mind.
    • Attacks on your confidence.
    • Attacks on your identity.
    • Attacks on your purpose.

    The in-between is spiritual warfare.

    Let’s talk about how you fight — and win.

    The Enemy’s Strategy: Disarm, Distract, Destroy

    The Bible is clear:

    “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world.” (Ephesians 6:12)

    In the in-between, the enemy doesn’t usually show up in obvious ways. Instead, he whispers:

    • Confusion — “You don’t know what you’re doing.”
    • Impatience — “God’s forgotten you. Take control.”
    • Doubt — “Maybe God never spoke after all.”
    • Insecurity — “Who do you think you are?”

    The goal? To disarm your faith, distract your focus, and destroy your forward progress.

    The Good News: You’re Fully Equipped

    The enemy has a strategy — but so does God.

    “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:4)

    You are fully equipped for this fight.

    Let’s get extremely practical.

    The Pirate Dance: Reflect, Remind, Reset

    If you’ve been listening to Coffee With Phil, you’ve heard me call this my “Pirate Dance.” (A little humour for a heavy topic; Arr, Arr, Arr.)

    But make no mistake — this is serious spiritual warfare.

    1️⃣ Reflect On What God Has Done

    • List past victories.
    • Journal answered prayers.
    • Remember how God showed up before.

    Why? Because what God has done is proof of what He can do again.

    “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.” (Psalm 77:11)

    2️⃣ Remind Yourself Of What God Has Said

    • Go back to the Word.
    • Rehearse prophetic words.
    • Declare God’s promises aloud.

    Why? Because God’s Word does not expire.

    “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

    3️⃣ Reset Yourself For Advance

    • Release your need to control outcomes.
    • Let go of your timeline.
    • Position your heart for fresh trust.

    Why? Because the in-between requires constant recalibration.

    “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)

    Use The Word As Your Sword

    When the enemy came after Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4), Jesus didn’t argue, negotiate, or explain. He simply said:

    “It is written.”

    Scripture is your greatest weapon.

    • Speak it.
    • Declare it.
    • Stand on it.

    When you wield God’s Word, the enemy cannot argue with it.

    Don’t Fight Alone

    You’re not designed to battle solo.
    In the in-between, you need:

    • Intercessors — people committed to pray for you daily.
    • Armour bearers — trusted friends who carry your burdens.
    • Spiritual counsel — leaders who can help you discern wisely.

    Quick Recap: The Battle Plan

    VulnerabilityEnemy’s AttackGod’s Weapon
    ConfusionDarknessRevelation
    ImpatienceControlTrust
    DoubtFearFaith
    InsecurityIdentity CrisisSonship

    Coming Next: “5 Anchors For Thriving In The In-Between”

    In Part 5, we’ll land this series by giving you five simple but powerful actions you can take today to stay grounded and strong in the in-between.

    PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES:

    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 1): When God’s Promise Feels Delayed
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 2): Moses — The Leader Who Lived In The In-Between
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 3): The Four Emotional Vulnerabilities Of The In-Between

    👉 If you haven’t yet, listen to my Coffee With Phil podcast episode for the full teaching.

  • Thriving In The In-Between (Part 3): The Four Emotional Vulnerabilities Of The In-Between

    The in-between isn’t just a spiritual concept — it’s an emotional battleground.

    When God’s promises feel delayed, your heart and mind enter vulnerable territory. And if you don’t name what you’re facing, you won’t know how to fight it.

    In this post, we’re going to get painfully honest (and very practical) about the four emotional vulnerabilities you’ll face in the in-between. You’re not failing if you experience these — but you are in danger if you pretend they aren’t there.

    1️⃣ Confusion: “What Am I Supposed To Do?”

    The first vulnerability that hits us is confusion.

    • “Did I hear God correctly?”
    • “Was that really His leading?”
    • “Am I supposed to stay, move, wait, act?”

    In the absence of visible direction, the temptation is to fill the void with your own solutions — or worse, to freeze entirely.

    God’s Antidote: Revelation

    Confusion thrives in darkness; God’s revelation brings light.

    “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

    When you’re confused:

    • Return to the Scriptures.
    • Revisit the prophetic words God has already spoken to you.
    • Seek godly counsel that brings clarity, not more noise.

    God is not the author of confusion; He is the author of truth.

    2️⃣ Impatience: “Why Is This Taking So Long?”

    The longer you wait, the more you want to do something.
    Force the issue. Make something happen. Take control.

    Impatience is incredibly dangerous — because rushed decisions often lead to wrong outcomes.

    “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” (Psalm 27:14)

    God’s Antidote: Trust

    Impatience exposes your trust level.

    • Do you trust God’s character when you can’t see His timing?
    • Can you release your personal timeline to Him?

    Trust is confidence in who God is, not how quickly He performs.

    “He is faithful. He is my provider. He is working even when I can’t see it.”

    3️⃣ Doubt: “Is God Really Going To Do It?”

    Doubt is a spiritual fog. It attacks your belief system:

    • “Did God really say…?”
    • “Maybe I got this wrong.”
    • “Maybe this was just wishful thinking.”

    This is exactly the question the serpent posed to Eve in the garden — and it’s still the enemy’s favorite weapon.

    God’s Antidote: Faith

    “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

    You don’t fight doubt with intellectual arguments — you fight doubt by choosing faith.

    • Declare God’s promises aloud.
    • Pray bold prayers.
    • Surround yourself with people of faith who remind you what God can do.

    Faith is not the absence of doubt — it’s the decision to believe despite it.

    4️⃣ Insecurity: “Who Do I Think I Am?”

    Finally, insecurity hits you at your identity level.

    • “Am I even worthy of this promise?”
    • “Maybe I’m not spiritual enough.”
    • “What if I mess it up?”

    This attacks your sonship — your standing as a beloved child of God.

    God’s Antidote: Sonship

    “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship.” (Romans 8:15)

    You don’t have to strive to earn your place — you already have it. God’s promises aren’t fulfilled because you’re perfect; they’re fulfilled because He’s faithful.

    Spiritual Warfare Is Real

    Let me be clear: these vulnerabilities aren’t just feelings — they’re spiritual battlegrounds.

    • Confusion.
    • Impatience.
    • Doubt.
    • Insecurity.

    The enemy uses these to discourage, distract, and derail you.

    But you don’t have to be a victim to them. You can recognize them early and apply God’s truth as your weapon.

    As I often remind myself:

    “If you let your emotions drive, you’ll crash. But if you let them point you to God’s truth, you’ll stay on course.”

    Coming Next: “The Spiritual Battle of The In-Between”

    In Part 4, we’ll dive into how to fight these battles — practically, spiritually, and victoriously — using what I call the “Pirate Dance” (Reflect, Remind, Reset).

    PREVIOUS POSTS IN THIS SERIES:

    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 1): When God’s Promise Feels Delayed
    Thriving In The In-Between (Part 2): Moses — The Leader Who Lived In The In-Between

    👉 If you haven’t yet, listen to my Coffee With Phil podcast episode for the full teaching.