How to Avoid Getting Stuck in the Gaps of Life

Do you have a special talent?

I can juggle. I’m not sure that’s special, but my kids sure think it’s cool.

But I want to improve. Maybe juggle five balls and do some fancy tricks. So I’m working on my skills by watching YouTube videos on how to juggle.

What I’ve discovered is that there is a gap between where I’m at and what is possible.

You know what I mean? You’re here—but you want to be there. There is a gap between your current experience and where you want to be. These are the gaps of life.

Gaps of Life

If you are like me, I find gaps everywhere. In my marriage, parenting, dreams, and even my relationship with God. I’m here, but I want to be there. How do I get over there? How do I become a better parent? How to I love my wife better? How do I experience my dreams?

Maybe you are an athlete wanting to be faster, stronger, and more skillful. But when you watch the pros you realize you still have a long way to go. Or maybe you are a musician learning guitar. But after watching John Mayer perform you realize there is still so much to learn. 

Try harder to do better? That’s our typical answer. Doesn’t work. Ignore the gap? Good luck with that. The problem is we try to fill our gaps with everything other than Jesus

But the solution is not outside of Jesus, but rather the extravagant provision through Jesus.

Matthew 6:25-33

25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  27Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  

31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Notice these verses are talking about very practical and everyday things; Food, water, and clothes. Jesus is saying not to worry about all these things because the Father knows that we need them. But if we seek first His kingdom and righteousness, all these things are a given.

Wow! What a promise.

All These Things

When Jesus talks about all these things, He is not talking about a little dab will do ya. Notice that He references Solomon in all his splendor in verse 29. Solomon was one of the riches guys to ever live, and yet Solomon in all of his riches was not dressed like a flower in the field.

In other words, the provision of God is extravagant. And at the core of His extravagance is the person of Jesus.

What fills the gaps between our current experience and all that God has for us—is the person and work of Jesus.

Seek Him in the Gaps

Experiencing life in the Kingdom begins with seeking. Seeking is not like a casual game of hide and seek. It’s more like a family member has been kidnapped and now you go all Liam Neeson (Taken) to find them.

It’s intense and all-consuming. We wouldn’t give up in a week, month, or even year. We would continue to turn the world upside down until they’re found.

What if we went after God this way? What would we experience in the Kingdom if we had this type of intensity and focus?

Listen, He is not hiding or running away—that’s not the reason we seek. The Father has already provided everything we need through Jesus.

It’s called redemption. And it’s already available and part of the extravagant provision of God.

The reason we seek is to receive and experience what Jesus has already made available. But the problem is there are so many things competing for our attention and love.

So here’s the key, singular focus. Without seeking first the Kingdom for as long as it takes—our experience will be limited to the gaps of life.

Promise:The extravagant provision of God is available today. Seek Him in the gaps!

Prayer:Lord, I recognize I have so many gaps in my life. Thank you for your extravagant provision in and through Jesus. I set my heart today to seek You in the gaps.

Questions:What gaps do you see in your own life? How can you seek Him today?