Liminal Spaces

What can we do when we’re in a liminal space, an in between moment? Erin Reynolds shares her heart.

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Liminal Spaces

By Erin M. Reynolds

We’re all likely familiar with the word subliminal—something that occurs beneath our awareness. But fewer of us may think about its root: liminal. Liminal means “threshold,” a space between what was and what is yet to be. These in-between times can feel disorienting. We know what we’ve left behind, but don’t yet know what lies ahead.

I have recently found myself in several liminal spaces. I have been looking for a job for five years, after leaving a job I loved and students who loved me. Now, I can't get an interview. Will there be a next season? I also recently sent my last child to college. My husband and I are empty nesters. What will life look like without the children to distract us?

Liminal seasons vary in length. Some are short, like the space between Thanksgiving and Christmas. How will we fill our time during these short, dark days? Will anyone invite us to their home over the holidays? Others linger for years, like a parent diagnosed with dementia. How do we communicate, now that the window to a parent’s mind and thoughts is closing? Until we cross these thresholds, we are left wondering, what’s next?

Scripture is full of liminal stories. After killing an Egyptian, Moses fled to Midian, where he lived for 40 years. He was once a prince in Pharaoh’s court, with power and privilege. But in the wilderness, stripped of identity and direction, he waited until God called him to lead a nation to freedom.

The Israelites also lived in liminal space, wandering for 40 years between slavery in Egypt and the promise of Canaan. Later, they endured generations of exile. Again and again, God’s people stood between what had been and what would be, unsure of the next step.

The Psalms echo this in-between experience. Time and again, the psalmists cry out in uncertainty, like in Psalm 13:

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death. (Psalm 13:1–3, NIV)

We may find ourselves praying this same prayer. In our liminal places between jobs, relationships, and seasons of life, we may feel forgotten or stuck while the rest of the world moves on. We long for clarity, for a sense of purpose. We listen for God, but for a while, we hear nothing.

So what do we do while we wait? What can we learn in these in-between places?

The end of Psalm 13 offers guidance:

But I trust in your unfailing love;

My heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me. (Psalm 13:5–6, NIV)

We trust. We hope. We remember. We believe. We lift our voices in praise for what God has already done. These aren’t passive words but active, faith-filled postures that help us stand firm in the face of uncertainty. During transitions, whether big or small, long or brief, people of faith draw strength from God’s past faithfulness and hold onto the promise that God is still at work. We trust that we are not alone and that God is at work, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Finally, it is helpful not to walk through liminal space alone. Community matters. Fellowship matters. In liminal times, we need each other more than ever. If you are not currently in a faith-based community, find a place where a community will help you remember what God has done, ask honest questions about where you are now, and seek to discover what God might do next.

A Prayer for Liminal Space

Dear Lord,

As I find myself in this in-between place, walk closely beside me.When I lose sight of purpose, bring clarity and meaning.When I feel rejected or unseen, remind me that you have a plan.Rebuild what is broken.Restore my soul.Make me new again.

Amen.

This article was originally written for Connections Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado, during a liminal space when they were looking and waiting for a pastor. It has been adapted for the Really audience and season.

Erin Reynolds earned her doctorate in Human Communication Studies from the University of Denver. She is a creative, constructive thinker who cares deeply about justice, unity, and growth. Erin owns a consulting business called The Next Chapter, helping clients move from being stuck to advancing into life-giving futures. She speaks on communication topics and how words can be powerful tools to grow people, organizations, and strategic vision. As a writer, she is published in several online and print periodicals and also writes copy for organizations wanting to expand their online presence. She has worked in corporate, government, educational, and private settings.  Erin was an assistant professor of communication at Fuller Theological Seminary and has worked as an adjunct professor of communication at many colleges and universities in the Denver Metro Area. She resides in Denver with her husband, Bob, in a newly emptied nest.