If you have ever known anything about real estate, you are familiar with the phrase, “Location, Location, Location.” In real estate, it’s all about location.

That’s not only in real estate. Where we live in our personal lives matters, too. Any time we exist in an unsettled state, for any reason, there can usually be found some inner discomfort. As a species, most of us enjoy life when things are safe, nailed down, secure, and predictable. When something happens in life that snatches that out from under us, we get a bit wobbly. We start grasping at anything around us to try to restore some stability and confidence in our lives.

No one likes living in limbo for very long. But at one time or another, we all take up residence there, either by our own choosing or by the choices of parties outside of our supposed control. I say “supposed control” because if we are truly honest, we never really have control at all, only the semblance of control. When things are happening according to our “plan” then we can breathe a bit easier, not worry so much, and we feel content. When they don’t, well…

There have been times in my life when I have lived in limbo. When my husband left his full time guaranteed salary and benefitted senior pastoral position for an unpaid one to start a new church, I found myself in limbo. When we moved back to my hometown of Birmingham without employment for either of us and signed a year’s lease on a house we had no way to pay for, I found myself in limbo.

Living in limbo kind of stresses me out. This disappoints me about me. Because here’s what is usually true of life in Limbo-land; usually God is just about to do something really big, and I truly love it when God does something really big. When God decides to shake things up, what usually falls out is so much better than anything I could have contrived in my own mind for my life.

Are you living in limbo? Are you feeling just a bit unstable? On shaky ground? Uncertain of the future? When you find yourself grasping for firm footing, make sure you are grabbing hold of the promises God made to us in his word. I dug up a few to get us started. Maybe you know of some more you can share here in Limbo-land.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

“As for God, his way is upright; the word of God is pure; he is a shield to all those who take refuge in him.” Psalm 18:30

“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10