I have had no new revelations lately.  I love revelations – not the book of Revelation in this case, although that’s also a great read – but moments of insight when a truth unzips itself in a new way and I see it clearly.  When I first started seeking God, everything was “new”.  And even today, decades later, new slants, shadows and colors can open up and illuminate an old truth in a new way.  When I blog, it’s usually because an insight has really inspired me, I am excited, and I want to unpack it and capsulize my thoughts in words.

Which is all great, if fresh wisdom is always there, present, ready to be had.  Sometimes, though, there is nothing fresh.  It’s the time in between revelations.

Maybe some of this is cultural conditioning.  You know, the psychological aspects of living in a culture where there is always some sort of stimulus around the corner to excite.  Usually some form of entertainment, media, or technology that is new and exciting.  It seems that we are culturally used to having new things in our lives every day.

So why shouldn’t it be that way with insight and revelation from God?  Something always new, revelatory, life-changing?

I don’t know.  But I am sure that all of the patriarchs, prophets, heroes, and men of God of the Bible had times in between revelations.  Maybe these times are not elaborated on in the Bible because they are not significant.  So, a quick read of the Bible might give one the impression that God was speaking all the time, people heard from God daily, and they were continually led in their lives of faith by direct communication.

Let’s just consider this one story, the famous story of Abraham and Sarah.  God appeared to Abraham many times and told him that he would be “the father of multitudes.”  When Abraham was 95, God promised him a son from his (also elderly) wife Sarah.  Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. (Gen. 18:11)

After this, if the story is chronological, a long time transpires.  God destroys Sodom and Abraham takes a long journey.  I assume that these events took many, many days.  And there is no mention of any contact with God during these days.  No revelations, no further words about this, really. Abraham does pray to God during this period to heal king Abimelech’s household after lying to him about Sarah’s availability, and God does heal. But God provides no more reassurances or specific direction about the promised son.

Finally, three chapters later and who knows how many days, or years, in Genesis 21, Sarah is visited by the Lord and conceives a son.

I am curious how Sarah handled this in between time.  Besides sleeping with Abimelech (which seems strange, considering she is elderly), there is not much said about her thought or prayer life.  Was Sarah full of faith during this journey?  Did she waver?  Did the hope that she would bear a son ever die out in her?  Did she grow apathetic and uncaring?  Did she continue to care and grow despairing? Did she toy with the idea that God would not keep His promise?  Unfortunately, we have no access to Sarah’s thoughts in the time in between.

I wonder how to handle the in between times.  The stretches of time when there is nothing “new” coming from heaven.  Perhaps these times are meant to develop perseverance, to keep going in the things God has already revealed, to refresh our souls on the old insights and truths.  I picture Jesus saying “keep going, my daughter/my son.  Just believe what you have heard and learned from me and continue on.  Soon, I’ll open up a new truth for you to fuel your tank.  But for now, you need to keep going on what you’ve got.”

Paul, the apostle, talked about being

perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.  II. Cor. 4:8-10

The in between times may be when we feel the death of Jesus the most intimately.  And at the same time His life most profoundly.

Do you agree?