Jimbo's Jots

For many people in midlife, transitions don’t come one at a time—they arrive all at once.

Those in what is often called the sandwich generation may find themselves caring for aging parents while also supporting children who are graduating, launching careers, or navigating their own life changes. At the same time, personal transitions are unfolding: career shifts, milestone birthdays, health concerns, or questions about what the next season of life will hold. It can feel like standing at the intersection of many endings and beginnings.

Transitions often create what therapists call a liminal space—an in-between place where the old chapter has closed but the new one has not yet fully formed. This can feel disorienting.

A graduate may feel both excitement and uncertainty. Someone beginning a new job may quietly wonder if they truly belong. Entering a new decade of life can prompt reflection about purpose, calling, and direction.

Pastorally speaking, this in-between space is not wasted time. It is often where God does some of his most important work. Scripture repeatedly shows God forming people during seasons of waiting and uncertainty:

• Israel wandering in the wilderness
• David hiding in the caves before becoming king
• The disciples slowly discovering who Jesus really was

Growth often happens not in the moment of arrival, but in the space between chapters. From a therapeutic perspective, one of the healthiest responses during these seasons is curiosity rather than panic.

Instead of asking, “Why does everything feel uncertain?” we might ask:

• What might God be teaching me here?
• What new possibilities are emerging?
• What parts of my identity are being reshaped?

The in-between space is not empty. It is formative. And the good news of faith is this: we do not walk it alone. Even in seasons when life feels unsettled, God is present—quietly shaping us for what comes next.

Be blessed in the in-betweens!! Be a blessing to others in their in-betweens!!