Faith in the In-Between: Pray, Serve, Trust

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Women in the Upper Room

The disciples huddled with Mary and other women, praying in the tension between resurrection and Pentecost. They didn’t rush the process. Their hands stayed open, their voices united. The room smelled of sweat and oil lamps, their robes wrinkled from days of waiting. They chose to trust the promise even as walls closed in. [12:57]

Jesus left them with purpose, not panic. These women—who’d watched Him die and rise—modeled how to wait without wasting time. Their prayers weren’t passive; they anchored a community. God honors those who gather in the "in between," refusing to let doubt divide them.

Many of us isolate when transitions stretch us thin. But what if your breakthrough depends on locking arms with others? When was the last time you intentionally prayed with someone else in your season of waiting?

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.”
(Acts 1:14, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask God to reveal one person to pray with this week about your shared “in between” season.
Challenge: Text that person today to set a 10-minute prayer call.

Day 2: Hannah’s Bitter Prayer

Hannah’s tears soaked the temple floor. Her lips moved without sound as she begged God for a child. Eli mistook her anguish for drunkenness, but her raw prayer pierced heaven. She didn’t sanitize her pain—she let it fuel her faith. Year after year, she carried barrenness, yet kept showing up. [19:34]

God cultivates purpose in prolonged pain. Hannah’s desperation birthed Samuel, a prophet who anointed kings. Her story proves God doesn’t waste our waiting. He uses it to shape leaders, intercessors, and legacies we can’t yet see.

What ache have you stopped bringing to God because it feels too familiar? Where have you traded passionate prayer for polite words?

“And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will… give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.’”
(1 Samuel 1:10-11, NKJV)

Prayer: Confess one frustration you’ve hidden from God, then vow to pray boldly about it daily.
Challenge: Write your rawest prayer in a journal—no editing—and read it aloud to God.

Day 3: Mary’s Jar of Nard

Mary broke open her alabaster jar, anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume worth a year’s wages. The scent overwhelmed the room. Judas criticized her “waste,” but she ignored him. She worshipped while others plotted—pouring out her best as storms gathered. [27:05]

Serving in uncertainty honors God more than waiting for certainty. Mary’s act prepared Jesus for burial, though she didn’t grasp it yet. Her offering wasn’t about understanding but obedience. God multiplies what we give Him in faith, even mid-struggle.

What costly act of service have you delayed because your season feels unstable? How can you worship through action today?

“Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”
(John 12:3, NKJV)

Prayer: Thank God for three ways He’s provided recently, then ask Him where to “pour out” today.
Challenge: Do one tangible act of service (cook, write, visit) for someone feeling overlooked.

Day 4: Mary’s Unseen Yes

Mary trembled as Gabriel’s words hung in the air: “You will conceive.” She risked shame, Joseph’s doubt, even death. Yet she whispered, “Let it be.” For 30 years, she pondered mysteries she couldn’t explain—from manger to cross—trusting the One who called her. [34:23]

True faith obeys before outcomes appear. Mary’s “yes” wasn’t a one-time prayer but a lifetime of surrendering expectations. She let God rewrite her story, even when it hurt. His plans always outshine our blueprints.

What divine assignment have you hesitated to embrace because it disrupts your comfort? What would “let it be” look like today?

“Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.’”
(Luke 1:38, NKJV)

Prayer: Name one area where you’re clinging to control, then release it with Mary’s words.
Challenge: Perform a physical act of surrender (open hands, kneel) as you pray “Let it be.”

Day 5: Fire in the Waiting Room

Flames descended as they prayed. Tongues of fire crowned each head in the upper room—the promised Spirit igniting their obedience. Wind rattled shutters as bystanders marveled. Their waiting birthed power; their unity became a conduit. Pentecost proved God rewards those who endure. [36:47]

The Holy Spirit doesn’t avoid transitional seasons—He invades them. What the disciples gained in that room outweighed every doubt they’d carried. God’s timing is perfect, His promises sure. Your “upper room” moment is coming.

Are you ready to steward the breakthrough you’ve prayed for? How will you partner with the Spirit today?

“When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind… Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 2:1-4, NKJV)

Prayer: Ask for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in your current “in between” season.
Challenge: Spend 5 minutes in silence today, hands open, expecting God to move.

Sermon Summary

We celebrate tangible provision and faithful progress. We have paid down the building debt and witnessed God meet practical needs in surprising ways. We connect financial stewardship with spiritual trust and see generosity as part of faithful partnership with God. We center on the theme of faith in the in between, naming transitional seasons as the hidden workshops where God shapes endurance, character, and future fruit. We refuse to skip the middle: the space between promise and fulfillment demands persistence.

We identify three biblical models for surviving transition. First, Hannah shows that raw, urgent prayer births what the eye cannot yet see. We learn that pain can push us into a deeper prayer life and that persistent, honest petition cultivates unseen formation before public manifestation. Second, Mary Magdalene models faithful service while the outcome remains unclear. We find that continued pouring keeps purpose alive, prevents spiritual isolation, and preserves access to God even when disappointment tempts withdrawal. Third, Mary the mother of Jesus demonstrates steady trust when God’s plan disrupts personal plans. We learn to say yes to God without full clarity and to remain close to the unfolding story rather than abandoning it in grief or confusion.

We also trace how the early believers in Acts exemplify the rhythm of praying, serving, and trusting prior to Pentecost. We affirm that God often prepares the power in hidden seasons by asking us to keep praying like Hannah, keep serving like Mary Magdalene, and keep trusting like Mary the mother of Jesus. We call ourselves to resist the hurry that wants Pentecost without the upper room. We commit to steady practices: intensified prayer, continued service, and courageous trust. We believe that endurance produced in the in between becomes the conduit for God’s promised fulfillment. We conclude by lifting needs in prayer, asking for healing, salvation, and breakthrough, and by reminding ourselves that God can be trusted through the uncomfortable middle.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith thrives in the in between Transitional seasons develop endurance, not merely delay blessing. We must recognize the middle as a formative time when God refines faith, deepens character, and produces spiritual oil that will be evident later. Rather than despising waiting, we learn to measure growth by patience and perseverance. [15:07]
2. Pray with Hannah's intensity Deep prayer arises when circumstances exceed our control and push us toward God. Honest, fervent petition carries burdens into the unseen place where God begins to form the answer. Prayer in the middle trains our soul to trust beyond feeling and prepares outcomes before they appear. [18:42]
3. Serve like Mary Magdalene Continued service anchors us in purpose when outcomes lag behind promises. Pouring what we have keeps holiness active, preserves community ties, and resists the enemy’s tactic of isolation. Faithful ministry in the dark ensures we remain present when God moves publicly. [27:05]
4. Trust as Mary trusted Saying yes without full clarity becomes the posture of authentic trust. Remaining near God through disruption proves that trust outlasts explanation and transforms suffering into preparation. Trust holds our hands steady at the cross and our eyes fixed toward the coming promise. [33:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Financial Testimony and Gratitude
[01:13] - Momentum in Giving
[02:43] - Offering: Trusting God for Breakthrough
[07:56] - Praise and Worship Moment
[10:08] - Honoring Mothers and Their Lessons
[12:57] - Acts 1:14 and the In Between
[15:07] - Defining the In Between
[18:42] - Pray Like Hannah
[27:05] - Serve Like Mary Magdalene
[33:21] - Trust Like Mary, Mother of Jesus
[37:08] - Other Scriptural Mothers as Examples
[39:43] - Commitment to Pray, Serve, Trust
[43:27] - Corporate Prayer and Healing
[44:58] - Invitation and Closing Details

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Acts 1:14 (KJV)
"These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren."

Observation Questions

What specific actions did the early believers engage in during their transitional season in Acts 1:14?
How did Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:10 reflect her emotional state and faith? (Referenced in sermon: [18:42])
What practical act of service did Mary Magdalene perform in John 12:3, and when did she do it? (Referenced in sermon: [27:05])
What phrase did Mary, the mother of Jesus, use to express her trust in God’s plan in Luke 1:38?

Interpretation Questions

Why might transitional seasons (like the "in between") be particularly challenging for maintaining faith, and how do the examples of Hannah, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jesus address those challenges? (Referenced in sermon: [15:07])
How does persistent prayer in uncertain seasons, as modeled by Hannah, create a foundation for future outcomes even when answers aren’t immediately visible?
Mary Magdalene continued serving Jesus even as His crucifixion approached. What does this suggest about the relationship between service and spiritual resilience during unclear or painful seasons?
Mary’s trust in Luke 1:38 involved surrendering her personal plans. How does this kind of trust differ from conditional obedience?

Application Questions

What “in between” season are you currently navigating (e.g., waiting for healing, a job, or relational restoration)? How can you intentionally pray with Hannah’s urgency in this season? (Referenced in sermon: [18:42])
When disappointment tempts you to withdraw from serving others or your community, what practical step can you take this week to keep “pouring out” like Mary Magdalene? (Referenced in sermon: [27:05])
Is there an area of your life where God’s plan feels disruptive or unclear? How can you practice saying “yes” to Him daily, even without full understanding, as Mary did?
The sermon emphasized that “faith thrives in the in between.” What daily habit (e.g., journaling, worship, Scripture meditation) could help you recognize God’s work in your current transitional season?
How can you guard against comparing your “in between” season to others’ breakthroughs? What truth from Scripture or the sermon encourages you to trust God’s timing? (Referenced in sermon: [21:03])
Identify one area where you’ve been tempted to withdraw from community or ministry. How will you intentionally stay connected this month?
The early believers “continued with one accord” in prayer. Who can you partner with this week to pray boldly for a specific need, mirroring their unity?

Sermon Clips

38s

#GodWorksInTransition

“You may be in between grief and healing. Prayer and manifestation. Promise spoken and promise filled but do not lose faith in the middle because god does his best work in transitional season. Do I have a witness that can say amen because god does his best work when I'm in between. Sometimes the waiting is producing endurance. Sometimes the delay is producing maturity. That is why acts one matters so much because before fire fell, they prayed.”

26s

#PrayerThatCarriesPromises

“Because real prayer will make people misunderstand you. This is a kind of prayer that comes with deep seasons. A prayer that comes from carrying something too heavy to explain a prayer that says, god, if you don't move, I don't know how this story will end and here is the shot right here before Hannah ever held Samuel in her arms, she first carried him in prayer.”

28s

#KeepPouringInFaith

“Hear me? But Mary teaches us something powerful. Faith keeps pouring even in uncertain seasons. Hear me. Mary pours oil on Jesus while standing in a season. She does not fully understand. She does not fully understand what is coming next, but she keeps serving anyway. And mature faith learns how to keep pouring while life is still unfolding.”

37s

#HoldingFaithInTransition

“How to keep believing when the answer has not yet arrived. How to keep serving while still waiting. How to keep praying when heaven feels silent. How to hold on to faith in seasons that feel uncertain, uncomfortable, and unfinished. Because truth is, some of the hardest seasons in life are transitional seasons. It's the in between season. The seasons where one chapter has closed but the next one has not fully opened yet and if we if we are honest, that's where many of us are right now.”

29s

#WaitingTestsFaith

“And if we are honest, this is where many people lose heart. It is not in the storm or the attack, but it is in the waiting. The truth is, during the storm, we pray more. Mhmm. We intercede more. We seek god more, but it's in the in between. We struggle because we don't quite understand what is happening. I survived the storm, but I haven't stepped into victory yet.”

29s

#DontWithdrawFromServing

“You can become tired, discouraged, frustrated, and when that happens, many people slowly stop serving. You slowly start seeing them go from the second row to the fifth row. From the fifth row to the back row. You serving as a deacon at the front door and we don't even know how you got back there. They stopped showing up. They stopped giving because disappointment has a way of making people withdraw.”

32s

#DontSkipTheSeason

“And if mothers teach us anything, they teach us this, that don't quit in the middle. Don't walk away while god is still working. Don't skip this season that is shaping you and over the last few weeks as we've been in this series, don't skip this season. I pray that you've been getting something from what god is saying and as we've been talking, taking this journey from resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, I believe many of the principles we have been teaching apply to our everyday lives.”

28s

#StuckInTheInBetween

“I I made it through the attack, but I still feel stuck in transition. I I am not where I was, but I'm also not where god promised I will be. The in between can feel uncomfortable. It can feel unclear. It can feel repetitive. Some days, it feels like you anybody been there? It feels like you're moving, and other days, you feel like you're standing still or better yet, took two steps back.”

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Pastor Everett Johnson This sermon · AI assistant

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Faith in the In-Between: Pray, Serve, Trust

Devotional

Day 1: Women in the Upper Room

Day 2: Hannah’s Bitter Prayer

Day 3: Mary’s Jar of Nard

Day 4: Mary’s Unseen Yes

Day 5: Fire in the Waiting Room

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Faith in the In-Between: Pray, Serve, Trust

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