LIVESTREAM | Sunday Service | Ps. Devi Tjakra | IFGF San Francisco

Jul 06, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Halftime as Holy Preparation

The wilderness between victories is not empty space. Like a soccer team regrouping at halftime, God uses in-between seasons to recalibrate trust and realign hearts. These moments feel suspended—no longer celebrating past wins, not yet grasping future promises. Yet this is where endurance grows. Israel’s desert journey after Egypt reveals how hunger and thirst become classrooms for dependence. What feels like delay is divine strategy. [53:24]

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, ESV)

Reflection: What “halftime” season are you navigating? How might God be using this pause to deepen your reliance on His timing rather than your own plans?

Day 2: Manna Moments in the Desert

God’s provision often comes daily, not in bulk. The Israelites gathered manna one morning at a time, learning to trust God’s faithfulness sunrise to sunrise. When we fixate on stockpiling security or demanding long-term guarantees, we miss the miracle of “enough for today.” The wilderness teaches us to open empty hands each dawn, believing the God who fed a nation with bread from heaven still meets today’s needs. [01:10:01]

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day.’” (Exodus 16:4, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to demand tomorrow’s provision today? How can you practice receiving God’s “daily bread” in your current season?

Day 3: Crossing Bridges, Not Camping on Them

Bridges exist to be crossed, not inhabited. San Mateo Bridge’s uneasy span mirrors life’s transitional seasons—unsteady, essential, and purposeful. Israel’s desert was a corridor to promise, not a permanent home. God allows tension in the in-between to keep us moving forward, not settling for halfway obedience. Every uncertain step trains us to fix our eyes on the far shore of His faithfulness. [01:19:04]

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: What “bridge” are you crossing that feels risky? How might God be inviting you to walk, not stall, through this transition?

Day 4: Complaining or Trusting at Mara

Bitter waters test our default response. When Israel found undrinkable water at Mara, they grumbled before praying. God didn’t remove the bitterness immediately but revealed His power to transform it. Our in-between seasons expose whether we rehearse disappointments or rehearse God’s past deliverances. Even Marah’s trial carried a lesson: scarcity is where God schools us in surrender. [59:25]

“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19, ESV)

Reflection: When life turns bitter, do you first complain or pray? What past deliverance can you recall to anchor today’s trust?

Day 5: Wilderness as a Workshop for Hope

The desert doesn’t erase promise—it prepares people. Israel’s hunger wasn’t a sign of God’s absence but a canvas for His provision. Every day of manna, every sip from the rock, was a brushstroke painting their future faith. What we call waiting, God calls crafting. The wilderness isn’t where stories end but where resilient hope is forged. [01:15:40]

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34, ESV)

Reflection: What promise feels delayed in your life? How can today’s small obediences become building blocks for tomorrow’s fulfillment?

Sermon Summary

Halftime sets the frame: an in between moment. The match is not over, no one celebrates, no one quits, the team regroups and listens, and adjustments get made for the second half. Life often sits there. God does some of his greatest work in the in between. This season is not a delay but preparation. Romans 8:28 sounds that assurance, yet Paul makes it clear the promise belongs to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. The text does not speak to everyone in general; it names the believer who belongs to him. For them, God is weaving all things for good.

The wilderness keeps showing that pattern. After the Red Sea, Exodus 15 finds Israel three days thirsty, arriving at bitter water, then watching God make it drinkable with a piece of wood. Exodus 16 then meets their hunger. Israel grumbles, remembers only the pots of meat, and talks as if slavery was security. God answers with manna from heaven and a test: gather enough for that day. The lesson is not water and bread; the lesson is trust. One day at a time.

Faith stands firm first. The real issue is not the empty stomach but the question behind it: will God’s people trust God when life is difficult and the way ahead is unclear. Standing firm in faith does not erase questions; it holds onto God’s character. Numbers 23:19 anchors that confidence. God does not lie, does not change his mind, does not speak and then fail to act. What he starts, he finishes.

Dependence stands firm next. God does not helicopter his people out of the desert. He meets them in the desert with daily bread. Enough for today. Strength, wisdom, peace, provision, and often a friend to encourage. Matthew 6:34 fits here; today’s grace meets today’s trouble, and today’s obedience becomes tomorrow’s foundation.

Hope stands firm finally. Manna on the ground is a morning reminder: not forgotten, just not home yet. The wilderness is not the destination; it is the road to the promised land. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls for all-the-heart trust and straight paths shaped by surrendered steps. Waiting is not being abandoned. The in between is a bridge, not a place to settle. It carries a person from where they are to where God wants them to be. The question is not if there will be an in between, but whether it will break a person or build them.

Key Takeaways

1. The in between is preparation [54:24] God often trains in the pause between chapters. What looks like delay becomes formation, pruning, and recalibration. When the finish line is still out of sight, God is adjusting the heart for the second half. Preparation is a mercy, not a punishment. [54:24]
2. Faith stands on God’s character [01:08:36] Questions are normal; collapse is not. Faith grabs hold of who God is when sight fails. If God does not lie and does not change, then promises are not mood dependent. Confidence rises from his fidelity, not from circumstances. [68:36]
3. Dependence learns today’s manna [01:10:41] God may not change the wilderness overnight, but he feeds people in it. Daily bread trains daily trust, and daily trust grows steady souls. Strength, wisdom, and small provisions arrive like dew, exactly on time for the work of the day. [70:41]
4. Hope treats wilderness as a bridge [01:17:52] A bridge is for crossing, not building a house. Hope refuses to confuse a hard stretch with the whole story. Each obedient step and every morning mercy carry a person forward, even when the destination stays foggy. [77:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[52:06] - Holiday nod and new theme
[53:04] - Halftime image sets the frame
[54:24] - In between as God’s preparation
[55:59] - Romans 8:28 for those who love Him
[57:26] - Abraham, Joseph, Moses in between
[58:31] - From bitter water to trust
[62:04] - Grumbling in the Desert of Sin
[63:22] - Stand firm in faith
[69:27] - Stand firm in dependence
[74:42] - Stand firm in hope
[77:52] - Bridge illustration of the in between
[80:22] - Will it break or build
[81:15] - Prepare hearts for communion

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Romans 8:28 (ESV): "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
- Exodus 16:2-4 (ESV): "And the whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness... Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.’"
- Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Observation questions

In Exodus 16, what did the Israelites focus on when they grumbled, and how did God respond to their needs?
According to the sermon, what does the daily gathering of manna teach about trust? [01:10:41]
How does Proverbs 3:5-6 define the relationship between trust and action?
What illustration was used to explain the purpose of the "in between" season? [01:17:52]

Interpretation questions

Why do you think God tested the Israelites with daily manna instead of providing a month’s supply at once?
The sermon says, "The wilderness is not the destination; it is the road to the promised land." How does this perspective change how we view difficult seasons? [01:15:40]
Numbers 23:19 says God does not lie or change His mind. How does this truth address doubts about His promises during waiting periods?
What might it look like to confuse the "bridge" (wilderness) with a place to settle permanently? [01:18:20]

Application questions

Describe a current "in between" season in your life. How can you shift from seeing it as a delay to preparation? [54:24]
When have you been tempted to "grumble" like the Israelites instead of trusting God’s provision? What practical step can you take this week to focus on His faithfulness instead?
The sermon says, "Today’s grace meets today’s trouble." What is one specific worry about tomorrow you need to surrender, and what grace can you lean into today? [01:12:44]
How can you intentionally "gather daily manna" (e.g., prayer, Scripture, community) to strengthen your dependence on God?
The wilderness can "break or build" us. What habit or mindset do you need to change to let this season build your faith? [01:20:22]
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls for "all-the-heart trust." What area of your life feels hardest to surrender to God’s plan right now?
Who in your life needs encouragement to view their struggles as a "bridge" rather than a dead end? How will you support them this week?

Sermon Clips

75s

#InBetweenBridge

“So the in between, like a bridge. It may feel uncertain, challenges. Remember when when you I don't know about you, but San Mateo Bridge for me is very long. You know? When I drove on the the summit of the bridge, I have a little bit some in my mind. Oh, what happened if there is earthquake or whatever? You know? I was little bit nervous sometime. As well as especially when you pass off very sometime trough on the inside the tunnel. Right? I can imagine that, wow. This is tunnel when, you know, think I know. I am not going to say that. It's a lot of thing, but I have to go through that tunnel. I have to go through that bridge. So again, the in between like a bridge, it may feel uncertain, challenges, sometimes waiting, but it has a purpose. So God is leading you from where you are to where he want you to be.”

80s

#ChooseTrust

“In Exodus sixteen, first two to three, things may not go as a plan. Even though, you know, we make a plan sometime, it's not happening. So the Israelites had left Egypt. They had not yet reached the promised land. They were in the wilderness. You know, the situation is they are hungry at that moment, uncertain, and unsure of what would happen next. Instead of trusting God, they grumble against Moses and Aaron. They even look back to Egypt forgetting how God had already delivered them. You know that story? There's a lot of things going on, right, at that moment, but they forgot. They just want to see the the positive thing. They don't want to see the something, you know, when you are in a valley, you forget about God. I want to be good. So the real problem was not their hunger. Again, the real issue was whether they would come continue to trust God when life become difficult.”

85s

#WalkByFaith

“In those moments, we begin to ask, God, where are you? Are you real God? Are you still with me? Where are you, God? And probably you will ask, can I still trust you? Are you real God? Your your word is yes and amen or not? There's a lot of question that's happening with me as well. I'm still human being. But luckily, yet the holy spirit is the one who's always remind me and the word of the lord. So that's why the word is said, walk by faith. that is in the in between. is in it in this moment that our faith is tested. So standing firm in faith does not mean we never have a question. That's okay. It is very normal if you have a question. That's fine.”

83s

#KeepHopeAlive

“But there is a one more thing God want us to learn in the in between, which is what? Do not lose hope. Do not lose hope because God knows. In pit win is not easy. A lot of things going on. Remember I mentioned it to you, there is a uncertainty, there is a probably a lot of know, there's a lot of things. So that's why do not lose hope. So every morning, the Israelites gather manna, it reminded reminded them that God had not forgotten them, which is they were not home yet, but they were getting closer, closer, closer every day. So the wilderness was not their destination. It was the road to the promised land. So the same true for us. Because you have not arrived where you want to be, not meet God has stopped working. He's still working behind the seat. every step of obedience and every day of God provision is moving you toward his purpose.”

79s

#TrustThroughTheProcess

“God did not take Israel out from the wilderness immediately. You know, when we have a problem, God not allowing us, not allow, not just take it away. The same thing, I think if we are as a parent, if you want your children to grow when they fail, you are not going to help them right away. If probably, if they are still baby. We don't want to become the helicopter parents. Right? You want to see them to grow Because you have a great purpose for their life. So the same thing with God. Instead, he made them in the wilderness by providing manna every single day. So sometime God does not change our circumstances right away. But he faithfully give us strength. He give us a wisdom. He give us peace and provision we need for his day. God's goal is not only to get us out from the wilderness, but also to teach us to trust him while we are in it.”

74s

#GrowThroughTrials

“You know, when we have a problem, God not allowing us, not allow, not just take it away. The same thing, I think if we are as a parent, if you want your children to grow when they fail, you are not going to help them right away. If probably, if they are still baby. We don't want to become the helicopter parents. Right? You want to see them to grow Because you have a great purpose for their life. So the same thing with God. Instead, he made them in the wilderness by providing manna every single day. So sometime God does not change our circumstances right away. But he faithfully give us strength. He give us a wisdom. He give us peace and provision we need for his day. God's goal is not only to get us out from the wilderness, but also to teach us to trust him while we are in it.”

70s

#TrustTheUnknown

“But the lesson was never just about the water or bread. It's about trust. About trust. The lesson was trust. And maybe that's the same question God is asking us today. we trust him when we do not know what comes next? Can we trust him? I understand as a human being, even me myself, I want to know what's next. the question is, will we trust him when we do not know what comes next? And the next question is, will we trust him when life is difficult? Know when the life is easy, everything is smooth, thank But the question is, when the life is difficult? the next question, will we trust him in the in between?”

52s

#WaitingIsNotAbsence

“So again, maybe you are waiting for a job, healing, restoration in your family. Nothing seems to be changing. And you wonder, God, are you still working? Remember, you when you are waiting, it doesn't mean God absent. God is there. God is there. Every day he give you strength, peace, and grace. You need to keep moving forward. So don't mistake waiting for being forgotten. The wilderness is not where your story end, it is where God prepare you for what comes next.”

Ask a question about this sermon

IFGF San Francisco This sermon · AI assistant

What is the purpose of in between seasons?

How should believers respond during spiritual in between?

How does God teach trust through daily provision?

LIVESTREAM | Sunday Service | Ps. Devi Tjakra | IFGF San Francisco

Devotional

Day 1: Halftime as Holy Preparation

Day 2: Manna Moments in the Desert

Day 3: Crossing Bridges, Not Camping on Them

Day 4: Complaining or Trusting at Mara

Day 5: Wilderness as a Workshop for Hope

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

LIVESTREAM | Sunday Service | Ps. Devi Tjakra | IFGF San Francisco

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