In the first post of this series, we defined the in-between as that space between God’s promise spoken and God’s promise fulfilled. If you missed it, [go back and read Part 1 here].

Now, let’s talk about a man who knows the in-between better than most: Moses.

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Moses: Called, Commissioned… and Waiting

Moses’ life could be summed up as one long in-between season. Let’s break it down:

• Born under threat: Pharaoh orders baby boys killed; Moses is hidden and rescued.
• Raised in privilege: He grows up in Pharaoh’s palace — but with a Hebrew identity.
• Flees into obscurity: Kills an Egyptian, escapes to the wilderness for 40 years.
• God calls him back: The burning bush encounter launches his leadership call.
• Leads a nation: Delivers Israel from slavery, walks them through the wilderness.
• Falls short: Disobeys God at Meribah; told he won’t enter the Promised Land.

He experienced massive highs and crushing lows — but most of his leadership was lived in the in-between. He led a people stuck between Egypt and Canaan, between slavery and promise, between unbelief and faith.

Sound familiar?

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The Three R’s: How Moses Navigated The In-Between

As Moses approached the end of his life, he delivered his final messages to Israel — recorded for us in the book of Deuteronomy.

In these sermons, Moses models three critical practices for living well in the in-between:

1️⃣ Reflect: Look Back On God’s Faithfulness

Before the people crossed the Jordan, Moses reminded them of everything God had already done:

• The miraculous escape from Egypt.
• The provision in the wilderness.
• God’s patience with their rebellion.

Reflection fuels gratitude and perspective.
When you’re in the in-between, remembering what God has already done strengthens your faith for what He will do.

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2️⃣ Remind: Rehearse God’s Promises

Over and over, Moses calls Israel to remember God’s covenant, commandments, and promises:

“Be careful to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then you will live and multiply, and you will enter and occupy the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors.” (Deut. 8:1)

When God feels silent, remember what He has already spoken.

Sometimes, we don’t need a “new word” from God — we simply need to remind ourselves of the word He’s already given.

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3️⃣ Reset: Prepare For What’s Next

Moses didn’t let disappointment paralyze him. Even though he couldn’t enter the Promised Land himself, he equipped Joshua and the people to advance:

“Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land…” (Deut. 31:7)

Resetting means preparing your heart for what’s ahead — even if you can’t see it yet.

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Why This Matters For You

You may not be leading a million people through the desert (praise God). But you are leading your own life, family, ministry, or calling through some version of the in-between.

The three R’s are your framework:

• Reflect on God’s goodness so far.
• Remind yourself of what He’s already said.
• Reset your heart to keep moving forward.

Or as I like to call it on the Coffee With Phil podcast: The Pirate Dance.
(Arrr, Arr, Arr!)

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God Is Working — Even When You Don’t See It

Moses didn’t fail because he lived in the in-between. His legacy was actually forged there. And so is yours.

As Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

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Coming Next: “The Four Emotional Vulnerabilities of The In-Between”

In Part 3, we’ll unpack the real struggles you face in the in-between — confusion, impatience, doubt, and insecurity — and how to overcome them with God’s truth.

👉 Until then, make sure to listen to the full Coffee With Phil podcast episode where I walk through this entire teaching.

 

“You’re almost there — but not quite.”

That moment when you’re driving toward your destination, and you instinctively sense you’re close. The GPS says 5 minutes. Your spouse pulls out the hairbrush. The anticipation rises. You can feel you’re nearly home, but you’re not quite there.

That, my friend, is the in-between — and in life, we often live there.

For Christians desiring to live obedient, steadfast lives of faith, the in-between is one of the most uncomfortable and yet most spiritually critical places we will ever occupy. It’s that space between God’s promise spoken and God’s promise fulfilled. The space where you believe, but you can’t yet see. You’re not in Egypt, but you’re not yet in the Promised Land.

In this series, I want to take you on a journey of understanding, encouragement, and practical guidance for navigating the in-between well.

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The Now But Not Yet

In theology, this tension is often called the “now but not yet” of God’s kingdom. The Apostle Paul puts it this way:

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19)

In other words: the fullness of God’s kingdom has broken into the world through Jesus, but it has not yet fully come in its ultimate completion. We experience God’s promises now, but we’re still waiting for their fullness.

And in your personal life?

• The job God promised — not yet open.
• The healing you believe for — not yet visible.
• The vision for ministry — not yet fully realized.

This is the in-between.

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You’re Not Alone In The Waiting

The Bible is filled with people who lived significant portions of their lives in this uncomfortable space:

• Abraham waited decades for Isaac.
• Joseph languished in prison before becoming a ruler.
• David was anointed king but spent years running for his life.
• Moses — and we’ll camp here for a bit — led Israel for 40 years, but didn’t enter the Promised Land.

Yes, even Moses, the man God spoke to face-to-face, found himself living in the in-between.

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Moses: The Man Who Got Close

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses is at the end of his journey. He led God’s people out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the very edge of the Promised Land.

But due to his disobedience, God tells Moses:

“You shall see the land before you, but you shall not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel.” (Deut. 32:52)

Talk about being almost there — but not yet.

And yet, what does Moses do? He faithfully delivers his final sermons (the book of Deuteronomy), preparing the people to enter what he cannot. In these final moments, Moses models how to live well in the in-between:

1️⃣ Reflect – Look back on God’s faithfulness.

2️⃣ Remind – Rehearse God’s promises.

3️⃣ Reset – Ready yourself for what’s next.

(You’ll hear me call this “The Pirate Dance” in upcoming posts. Don’t worry, it’s much more biblical than it sounds.)

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The Tension We Feel

If you’re in the in-between, you know the tension:

• You trust God but still feel unsettled.
• You have faith but battle impatience.
• You believe God’s word but wrestle with doubt.
• You know your identity in Christ but sometimes feel insecure.

Friend, you are not failing because you feel these things. You’re simply human. The key is learning how to navigate these vulnerabilities rather than letting them derail your journey. That’s exactly where we’re headed in the next few posts.

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The God Who Is In The In-Between

Here’s your first big takeaway:

Jesus lives in the in-between with you.

• Between life and death.
• Between sickness and healing.
• Between lack and provision.
• Between brokenness and wholeness.
• Between your past and your future.

He is Emmanuel — God with us — even in this space of waiting.

And He speaks this promise over you:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

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Coming Next: “Moses: The Leader Who Lived In The In-Between”

In Part 2, we’ll unpack how Moses handled his in-between season and what we can learn to strengthen our own walk of faith.

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👉 In the meantime, if this post resonates with you, take a moment to listen to the full CWP.119 episode of my Coffee With Phil podcast where I unpack this teaching in much greater depth.