The Power of "Yet"

I have heard it said, “Everything you need to learn, you learn in kindergarten.”

In this case, it couldn’t be more true. My sister, Katie, is an elementary school teacher in Frisco. We were talking about the students in her kindergarten class and her favorite phrase that has become her class’ mantra: “the power of ‘yet.’” With disgust, a little boy will complain, “I can’t tie my shoes!” Another little girl will correct him, “You can’t tie your shoes, yet!” This cues the whole class to respond in startling unison, “The power of ‘yet!’” The excitement is contagious. They love speaking the truth in love. These little students thrive on the truth that life is constantly filled with the “not yet.”

As adults, we get less patient with ourselves. The normal progression of growth and development becomes a nuisance. In our spiritual lives, we could benefit from embracing the power of “yet.” We lament, “I never have a consistent quiet time or prayer life.” We grumble, “I don’t have the kind of faith like those other people I know in my church.” We chide ourselves, “I can’t get my act together and stop struggling with the same stupid sins!” What if we simply ended all those sentences with “yet?” What if we lived our lives with more patience and give ourselves the benefit of the doubt? What if we lived our lives with trust that the Holy Spirit and the Holy Bible will actually continually make us more and more like the Holy One of God, Jesus?

We have embedded the power of “yet” into one of our most important theological frameworks: “already, but not yet.” We believe that scripture constantly teaches that many of the promises are fulfilled in the Person of Jesus “already, but not yet (completely).” We believe that Jesus has indeed conquered sin as far as its mastery over us (cf. Romans 6 and Luther’s Bondage of the Will). Yet, sin, death and the devil still have some influence in this world and in our lives. We are sinner-saints that Jesus promises, “in this life you will have trouble” (John 16:33). Yet, there is a better world to come, when Jesus will “make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). We have real pain and real tears, stuff that threatens to rend our souls in two. Yet, there will be a day when “he will wipe away every tear” (Revelation 21:4). We live a life betwixt and between. But, we can face the day with courage, without fear, when we embrace the power of “yet.”