God’s Meaning in Life’s Meanwhiles
By Pamela Bunn – BSF Board Member
Recently, a dear friend sat in an emergency room while doctors treated her husband, who had experienced multiple seizures earlier in the day.
As the minutes and silence stretched on, my friend decided to contact the chaplain at her child’s school about a concern that was unrelated to the current crisis.
For the first time in days, my friend, a busy physician and mother of four, was given the unscheduled time to sit, linger and have a much-needed conversation regarding one of her children. As God cared for my friend’s husband nearby and met the needs of her son many miles away, He comforted my friend with His presence as she waited.
God was active all around in the meanwhile.
In the midst of emergencies, challenging work, difficult relationships, significant change, or the uncertainties of a pandemic, we naturally become absorbed in our current situation. We ask, “What should I be doing? What do I need? Where should I focus?”
And while we concentrate on the immediate task that demands our attention and energy, we often fail to see what God is doing in the meanwhile. When we pause, step back, and consider our broad, high, transcendent God, we get a glimpse of His bigger picture and marvel at it. Our Omniscient God has His hands in every event and works in all of our meanwhiles. He is never overwhelmed. He sovereignly orchestrates all things for His good purposes, whether or not we ever see or understand them. When we look to the sky and see the thick of clouds, we know that behind them His light still burns intentionally and bright.
Meanwhiles in Scripture
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s Word is full of His work in the meanwhiles.
In Genesis 29, Jacob worked to win his wife, Rachel. During the next 20 years, he navigated his father-in-law’s deceptions, raised a family, built a thriving livestock herd and planned to return home. Meanwhile, unseen by Jacob, God was using these years to untangle Jacob’s past problems in Canaan.
In Genesis 32, as he prepared to meet his brother, Jacob anticipated an attack from Esau’s men. During a sleepless night, he was consumed by “great fear and distress.” Meanwhile, God had gone before Jacob to soften Esau’s heart.
In Genesis 50, Joseph summarized his grasp of God’s work in his meanwhiles when he told his brothers, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”
Throughout Scripture, God gives us glimpses of His sovereignty that encourage us to trust Him more deeply.
In Egypt, the Israelites groaned in slavery. Meanwhile, in Egypt as well as the desert, God was preparing Moses to deliver them from their captivity.
When Israel demanded a king, God gave them Saul. Meanwhile, He prepared David in the sheep fields to be a man after His heart and later take over the shepherding of His people.
And toward the end of the Old Testament, God seemed silent, sending no new prophets for 400 years. Meanwhile, He was preparing the world for the Messiah, His beloved Son who would die to redeem His people.
The Lessons We Learn
God works in ways visible and invisible. He is ever present and never confused. He handles every situation coincidentally, the known and the meanwhiles, neglecting none, and perfectly bringing about all He ordains. As with the Israelites of the Old Testament or the believers of the New Testament, God is accomplishing many things:
He expands our understanding of His ways – they are vast, eternal and always good.
He increases our appreciation of His power – it is limitless, ordered and never arbitrary.
He enriches our worship of His greatness – His thoughts are beyond our thoughts, and His love has no bounds.
Our Personal Meanwhiles
The same God who upholds the stars is working beyond what we see. He is the author of our meanwhiles. As He places kings, prime ministers, and presidents in authority, He also strategically places each of us where we are.
When we feel thrown off balance, stretched by demands on our time and efforts, we can remember the meanwhiles of Genesis through Jacob and Joseph.
We can ask, “How might God be working in my meanwhile? Is He refining a skill? Testing my faith? Adjusting my attitude or reordering my affections? Developing steadfastness and maturity? Meanwhile, what is He revealing about Himself?”
Though we cannot understand all of God’s plans, we can trust that His work stretches beyond what we see. As we prepare our hearts and minds for Matthew, let’s take some time to reflect on God’s work during the past year. We can rest assured there is meaning in every meanwhile to come.
Pamela Bunn
BSF Board Member
Pamela Bunn grew up in St. Louis, Mo., graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in English, and started BSF as a near newlywed in 1982 in St. Petersburg, Fla. After moving to her husband’s hometown Raleigh, NC in 1986, she served as a GL, an STL, a TL and an Area Advisor for eastern North Carolina and South Carolina, until 2013 when she joined the BSF Board of Directors. She served on the St. David’s School Board of Trustees in Raleigh for twenty years, and has been a Director for Benjamin F. Edwards & Co in St. Louis since 2010, where she works part time as a special advisor to the executive division. Pamela writes a daily devotional blog, astherainandsnow.com (inspired by Isaiah 55:10-11), delighting to combine her love for words, God’s Word and her photography of God’s creation. She and her husband, Lee, live in Naples, Fla., and are active in teaching, discipleship and shepherding ministries, especially with young couples. They have three adult children, two daughters-in-law and five grandchildren.
Did I wrap this up correctly to assume GOD is using ALL the happenings in the world until HIS return? Whether HE ordained it or not because HE allowed it… HE uses it for HIS glory and purposes? It sure makes pain and suffering a little easier to go through….. in the mean while I will TRUST in HIS sovereignty for my life while I wait for HIS return….
I appreciate the content in this particular blog. I have had many meanwhiles in life and believe God is about to reveal another. Thank you for reminding us that we can trust God is working for our good in every moment of what we preceive to be awkward silence. I am now looking forward in trust to God’s revelations in His timing.
I appreciate the content in this particular blog. I have had many meanwhiles in life and believe God is about to reveal another. Thank you for reminding us that we can trust God is working for our good in every moment of what we preceive to be awkward silence. I am now looking forward in trust to God’s revelations in His timing.
Very inspiring! Gentle and practical encouragement on ” in the meanwhile”. Can feel the writer’s true insight, love and caring sentiments coming from above. “Meanwhile” is lingering in my mind. So blessed to read the article. Praise the Lord! God bless all the BSF staff.
Great encouragement; realizing that in between the “Pit” stops, there are the gifts of the “Meanwhiles”….to God be the Glory!
Thank God who is always there for my ‘meanwhiles’. Great is he working for our good. Thankyou for such a lovely blog mam.
Thank you Pamela! That is so encouraging and so true. So often we are absorbed with all the complexities of our lives that we are blinkered to God’s
hand in the Meanwhiles….
When things look bleak, believe and move forward knowing God is at work and walking alongside.
How perfect and timely is our God with this message. I have sensed God’s wisdom in leaving my son in His perfect healing care whilst he embarks on his own painful journey in His soul with tonnes of anger as discerned by himself counselor and myself.
Thank you Pamela for your inspirational words. Now I have a truly deeper understanding of the word ‘meanwhile’ which has never been part of my thought life. So, as I wait upon the Lord for direction and guidance I am now more mindful of the meanwhiles in my life.
Having constant reminders that God is in control is calming and needed. Thank you.
Thank you Pamela, always thankful to BSF training to know God through the Word. He grows our faith, to love and serve Him..He quiets my heart with singing. (Zep 3:17)
His love is one of a kind. BSF is my 2nd home.
Thank you.
Love these words. Thank you.
Thank you for your Blog about the many meanwhiles. I have waited 4 yours for BSF to return to singing hymns before the lecture. I miss them terribly. Will they ever return?
I too have loved the hymns. They truly began the work of the Holy Spirit in me.
This blog has spoken to me this morning.
Thank you
Thank you Pamela. Great summary of Genesis. How encouraging to know God is working all the time in the ‘future’ – way ahead of us, even in Israelites’ case in Egypt 400 plus years ahead of them. Readying a leader to lead them out, and the enemies to prepare the promise land with butter and honey so they won’t have to toil and lack!. Best of all in the midst of today’s chaos struggles and uncertainties, we who knows and loves Him are aware HE never slumbers nor sleep preparing our heavenly Home! God Bless you richly.
Thank you this is right on time for me. God sent of course!
Veronica
44 years ago, I accepted Jesus Christ as I studied the Book of John at BSF. At that time we could only attend five years and had to leave to allow those on a waiting list to take our place. I began this years study of Genesis (my 3rd time) in potentially distracting circumstances. Prior to the study doctors had discovered two Aorta aneurysms had reached the point of requiring surgery. However, the hospitals were full with COVID patients, surgery was out of the question, so they would continue to grow until the restrictions on surgery were removed, or they burst and I would go on to be with the Lord.
Early in our studies, God addressed my concerns regarding this physical situation by building my faith in His Sovereignty. He simply spoke to my heart, telling me to live each day as if it were my last. What wonderful counsel from my Father. Yesterday is past, can never be anything but what it was, tomorrow has been determined by God and as Jesus tells us, will have enough evil of its own. Today is given to me by God to serve His purposes, to be His instrument and spread His love to all those He has and will bring into my sphere of influence. Listening for His counsel and acting as He directs me to insure the security of those He has given to me.
My wife was also studying Genesis, and we discussed Gods direction. We now both, as one, daily focus on living in NOW. In addition to her BSF studies, she has in 3 months memorized the entire Book of Philippians and we seek to daily serve God in whatever capacity He reveals.
Every event in each individuals life is approved by God who is using events to draw each of us closer to Him. A believer seeks to live in humble obedience to God in all circumstances, the process of dying to self, growing in Christ who is the power to live now with increased awareness of God in our lives as we grow in our relationship with Him and are seen as growing light in this darkness.
Very refreshing. Thank you sharing and for the reminder that God is also working in our meanwhile situation.
Blessings
So beautifully written and so inspirational – thank you!
Hi Pamela Thank you for all your work. This is my 5th year in BSF, I love it. Thank you for your work. I looked at your blog and love it too. Thanks for your gift to us
Thank you, very helpful to me!
Thank you Pamela for your encouragement. It just touches my heart in all the soft spots. And I so never want to forget what all I learned in Genesis this past year. And so remembering Joseph, Jacob, and Essau and putting them together with all everyone is going through, will help me never to forget.
Thank you for your insight and your blessed words.
I agree
Thank you as for me I have been in BSF for 3 years now. And I have fully been encouraged at what I learn in BSF. In Genesis I was reminded of many things. In the story of Jacob I realised that though Jacob a trick star God used him in a big way.If it was in our time in our own human ways we’d never choose him to accomplish what God purposed for him to accomplish.
And so I have learned to look at people differently bearing in mind how would God look at them or what would God do about them.
Our God is a merciful God.
A good enriching biblical insight on my meanwhiles. God bless you
Thank you Pamela for giving me a better Word. My meanwhile. I have been really blessed this passed year. But now my meanwhiles have renewed a great relief in me. Thank God for you.
Thank you Pamela. This is just what I needed to read today. It prompted me to think back over the past year. I’ve seen so many miracles in my life as well as in others around me. My meanwhiles have been full of God working in my life. I only have to pay attention. Thank you for reminding me. God bless you and all of my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Henry
An interesting reflection on the study of Genesis. Thank you.
While I truly believe in this message, I can’t help but feel that this message applies to mostly those of us who live in countries that are more stable with more opportunities for its people. What about people suffering in places around the world that oppress its own citizens, that are in constant turmoil, where people are starving etc. I have no answer. Just heaviness in my heart. Where is God for them?
Dear Gladys, I feel the heaviness in your heart. It seems so unfair and inconsistent. I think maybe that this message applies even more to these people though in a way.
In The Meantime… amidst their great suffering… God is working behind the scenes for His good purposes.
I once met a beautiful Christian lady with a strong faith that I admired greatly. As I got to know her she talked of how she had been taken as a child into a resistance “army” and used by the “officers” in ways I won’t describe here! She told me that what kept her going was a strong feeling/belief that God loved her!!
I honestly believe that sometimes God pours out a special grace into the lives of those who suffer persecution and immense pain/loss. May our precious Lord bless and keep you xx
Lest we forget: God is “omnipresent” and works for the good of all.
What a great reminder. I seem to be living in a ” Meanwhile” season, and this word gave me such clarity and encouragement.
This was was incredibly good!!! O taste and see that the LORD our Great God is Good!!!
“Meanwhile”, is my current season-thanks!
God is busy changing my expectations…they are too small for where He sees me.
Thank you for your wonderful blog! I love & take great comfort in the thought that God is never overwhelmed! No matter WHAT happens, we don’t HAVE to be overwhelmed. We can ask God to help us to empower us to continually rest in Him and then choose to keep our gaze locked on to Him first over the situation or issue. When the heat is on, we slide into overwhelm mode sometimes. But to have the hope & understanding that we can give that heavy load to the Lord is so refreshing & freeing!The Lord is SO amazing!
Thank you for the encouragement. I needed to hear as I am comtemplating a new season in my life
Very inspirational.
So RIGHT-ON!!! Just what I needed for today!! Thank-you!
Comforting message for us now! May God be praised for inspiring people like you, Pamela , to reassure us of His love and care for us. God bless you!
God is our refuge , strengh . Ever – present help,. Psalm 46:1 when I am afraid, I will trust in Him . God is soverign . Good and faithful .
” For I know the plans I have for you ” declared the Lord , plan to preosper you , not to harm you and gi eyoyna future ” Jeremiah 29:11 . Only trust and obey . God will ditect our path .
To God be the glory .
Thank your blog and inspiration …
Thank you Pamela , I needed this reminder. I am going to spend the rest of my day reflecting on the past year. I am struggling with a situation and dont know what Gods plans are or what I should be doing . After reading this article I have hope that He has the answer so I can stop worrying . Thanks again , have a blessed day ! Debra Sears