Eclipse of Kingdoms (Part 5) Suffering Between Two Worlds
For the past few weeks, I've been writing about the powerful yet painful tension of living in the "Already/Not Yet." A term some use for this is "liminal space." The word "liminal" is from the Latin for "threshold." It describes the space between what was and what will be. Standing on the threshold ("already" in the kingdom but "not yet" full in the door) is a place for transformation.
We've all experienced that moment: standing in a doorway, peeling off wet shoes and coats. You're out of the storm, but not quite home yet. It's a liminal space, a threshold between the outside world and the warmth, laughter, and comfort within. This space mirrors the experiences of pain and suffering in life.
The Already/Not Yet: A Place of Transformation
The "already/not yet" metaphor describes this liminal space. Suffering can feel like being stuck on the threshold, but it's designed to push us deeper into God's Kingdom. If we stay on the doorstep or retreat back into the storm, we miss the transformative power of this experience.
Pain serves a purpose. It reminds us of the "cold" outside God's grace. It opens our eyes to our need for God's love and softens our hearts to receive it.
But, here’s the thing. We have to resist the urge to numb the pain and distract ourselves from it. Self-medication tricks us into staying in the cold and dark, insulated by distraction. Pain teaches best when we pay attention to it. We have to learn what it is teaching us, allowing us to pull closer to God.
Learning from Pain in the Liminal Space
Living in tension is uncomfortable. Grief can be devastating. Yet, over time, the very pain that threatens to break us can become the catalyst for healing. The "already/not yet" space becomes a crucible of transformation. As one writer poignantly stated:
Liminal space … is a unique spiritual position where human beings hate to be but where the biblical God is always leading them. It is when you have left the “tried and true” but have not yet been able to replace it with anything else. It is when you are finally out of the way. It is when you are in between your old comfort zone and any possible new answer. It is no fun.
Living in the already/not-yet means that we have to resist anxiety, and learn how to live with ambiguity. It is a place to trust and wait.
Hope Beyond the Threshold
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”- John 14:1–2
Jesus reminds us that beyond this threshold lies an incredible home waiting for us. You are standing on the precipice of something amazing. Don't let the pain and frustration deter you. They are merely the doorway to a deeper relationship with God.
With You;
Pastor Tim
