Pentecost 8 – God in the In-Between

God in the In-Between

A short reflection based on Genesis 28:10-19a and Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Jacob meets God while he’s running away. He’s not settled, not confident, not in control. He’s between one life and another, sleeping rough with a rock for a pillow. Yet it is there, in the wilderness, that heaven opens. Jacob wakes and says, “Surely the Lord is in this place – and I didn’t know it.”

This is good news for all of us. God isn’t only found in holy buildings, peaceful moments, or carefully planned lives. God comes to us on the road, in the mess, when we feel unsure, guilty, lonely, or afraid.

Jesus’ parable of the wheat and weeds gives us another picture of faith. The field is mixed. Good and harm grow side by side. The servants want to pull the weeds out at once, but the farmer says, “Wait.” The roots are entwined. Pulling too soon will cause more damage.

This is a hard lesson for people who want quick answers. Our world, our churches, our families, and even our hearts are complicated. We don’t always know what’s wheat and what’s weed. So, Jesus invites us into patience, humility, and trust.

God is present in the in-between. God is at work in the tangled places. And God’s patient love is stronger than our fear. In the end, the promise is not that life will be tidy, but that love will have the final word.

Notice God here: God often meets us in uncertain, ordinary, and uncomfortable places.

Resist quick judgement: Some things need patience, humility, and careful discernment before action.

Ngā mihi
Philip

p.s. Worship leaders: You can buy a complete Order of Service and Sermon based on these readings here:  https://philipgarsidebooks.com/products/worship-at-hand-pentecost-8-19-july-2026