The Invitation in the In-Between

And in that space, Jesus expands his imagination: God’s love is not narrow or conditional. It is wide. It is generous. It is for the world.

We often interpret in-between seasons as examinations.

Prove your faith.
Prove your devotion.
Prove you’re growing.

But Lent is less about proving something and more about paying attention to what God is forming in the quiet.

An empty canvas can feel intimidating. It can feel like exposure. But maybe it’s simply space. Space to bring what is true. Space to ask what you’ve been afraid to ask. Space to admit that you don’t understand everything.

In John 3, Nicodemus comes to Jesus in the dark. He doesn’t arrive with certainty. He doesn’t deliver a polished confession of faith. He comes with curiosity. With confusion. With unfinished thoughts.

And Jesus does not shame him.

He doesn’t say, “Come back when your faith is stronger.” He doesn’t dismiss the questions as weakness. He enters the conversation.

There is something deeply reassuring about that.

Nicodemus’ questions are not evidence of lack. They are evidence of engagement.

He shows up.
He risks speaking.
He stays in the dialogue.

And in that space, Jesus expands his imagination: God’s love is not narrow or conditional. It is wide. It is generous. It is for the world.

The conversation doesn’t resolve everything. But something begins to take shape.

Faith is not the absence of questions.
It is the courage to bring them into conversation.