When God Shrinks You Before He Expands You: Understanding the In-Between Season

When God Shrinks You Before He Expands You: Understanding the In-Between Season

Have you ever felt like you're stuck in the middle of nowhere spiritually? Like you've left one season but haven't quite arrived at the next? You're not alone. Many believers find themselves in what can be called the "in-between" - that desert place between persecution and promise, between Egypt and the Promised Land.

What Does It Mean to Be in a Season of Shrinking?

Sometimes God allows us to go through what feels like a shrinking season - a time of pressing and difficulty that seems to make us smaller. But this isn't punishment; it's preparation. Just like Alice in Wonderland had to become small enough to pass through the door, we sometimes need to be compressed so we can access what God has for us on the other side.

This shrinking isn't about God making you less than you are. It's about removing what doesn't belong so you can carry what does. The pressing season dehydrates the impurities out of your life, making you pure enough to handle the glory that's coming.

Why Does God Bring Exposure to His Church?

In recent years, we've witnessed significant exposure in the charismatic church - leaders falling, scandals emerging, and ministries crumbling. Many people wonder if this means God is bringing judgment on His people. The truth is more hopeful than that.

God isn't exposing stains to destroy His bride; He's exposing them to cleanse her. This is purification, not condemnation. You can't pour clean water into a dirty vessel and expect it to stay pure. God is preparing His church to receive and carry His glory without corrupting it.

The exposure comes to the charismatic movement because we're the ones who believe God is still moving. Scripture tells us that judgment begins with the house of God - not as punishment, but as preparation for greater things.

How Do You Position Yourself for Glory?

The story of Samuel provides a powerful example of how to position yourself in seasons of limited glory. Samuel didn't sleep in the comfortable quarters with Eli. Instead, he positioned himself as close to the Ark of the Covenant as possible without crossing into death.

Samuel was hungry for God's presence. He understood that if you want to anoint kings, you need to stay close to the King of Kings. He positioned himself at the very edge of glory, in that place where one more step would mean death, but where he could receive everything God wanted to pour out.

The Danger of Getting Ahead of God

There's a critical difference between chasing God's presence and chasing His promises. When you chase promises, you end up trying to open doors yourself, networking your way into opportunities, and promoting yourself. When you chase His presence, the promises find you.

The children of Israel received a wealth transfer when they left Egypt, but their first act was to give their gold to a false idol. They got ahead of God's timing and purposes, which led to a generation wandering in the wilderness instead of entering the Promised Land.

What Happens When You Stay Close to Glory?

When you position yourself close to God's glory, several things happen:

Purification becomes automatic. You can't stay close to God's light without the stains in your life becoming visible and removable. The closer you get to His presence, the more obvious it becomes what needs to go.

His voice becomes clearer. Samuel could hear God's voice because he positioned himself where God's presence was strongest. When you stay close to glory, you learn to distinguish between God's voice and everything else.

Favor flows naturally. When you carry God's glory, people can see it. You don't have to tell them you're anointed - they can see the glow of God on your life.

How Do You Know If You're Stuck in the Middle?

Sometimes we get stuck in the in-between season because we've involved ourselves in territories that aren't ours. We take on battles we weren't called to fight or try to operate in authority we haven't been given.

If you feel stuck, ask yourself: Have I gotten involved in something that isn't my assignment? Am I trying to take on responsibilities or territories that God hasn't given me? Sometimes the solution is as simple as stepping back into your lane and closing doors you opened without permission.

The Promise of Multiplication

God's first command was to be fruitful and multiply. But you can't multiply nothing. Before multiplication can happen, there must be fruit. And before fruit can grow, there must be a seed.

Many people wonder why they're not seeing multiplication in their lives, but they've never planted anything. Your time, treasure, or talent - something needs to be seeded into God's kingdom. Something needs to die in the altar and go into the ground before you can expect a harvest.

Walking in Alignment for Greater Glory

To carry God's glory without corrupting it, everything in your life needs to be in alignment with His will. This means:

Settling your foundations. Deal with anything in your life that you know is out of alignment with God's word and will.

Staying in your assigned territory. Don't try to take on battles or responsibilities that belong to someone else.

Waiting for God's timing. Don't run ahead of Him or lag behind. Stay in step with His pace and His plan.

Life Application

This week, position yourself closer to God's glory than you've ever been before. Like Samuel, find that place where you're as close to His presence as you can get without crossing into disobedience. Examine your life for areas that need alignment and deal with them quickly. Stop chasing promises and start chasing His presence.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What areas of my life are out of alignment with God's will, and what steps will I take this week to address them?

• Am I trying to operate in territories or take on battles that God hasn't assigned to me?

• Am I chasing God's presence or just His promises, and how can I tell the difference in my daily actions?

• What seeds (time, treasure, talent) do I need to plant in God's kingdom to see the multiplication I'm hoping for?

Remember, you're not stuck forever in the in-between. God is preparing you for something greater. Stay close to His glory, maintain your alignment, and trust that the expansion is coming after the season of preparation.