Overview of “The Best Is In Between”
In this Elevation Church sermon, Stephen Furtick uses Jesus’ final conversation with Peter in John 21 to encourage people facing uncertain transitions. Jesus gives Peter a simple direction—“Follow me”—without explaining every step ahead. Furtick’s central message is that God meets people in the unsettled middle of change, and that faithful next steps matter even when the destination is unclear.
Key Themes
Follow Jesus through uncertainty
Jesus tells Peter that his life will change as he grows older and loses some control, then calls him to follow. Furtick presents those two words as guidance for the years ahead: people may not know what the next season holds, but they can keep taking the next step with Jesus.
He compares following to walking: each step involves a brief moment of instability. Avoiding that uncertainty can leave someone stuck, while moving forward in faith means accepting that the path may feel off balance.
Watch for distractions in the past, future, and comparison
Furtick describes three ways people can lose focus:
- “Back then”: idealizing the past and measuring today’s circumstances against how things used to be.
- “But when”: postponing peace, worship, or action until a hoped-for future arrives.
- “Better than”: comparing one’s life with someone else’s and assuming their path is preferable.
Peter’s question about John—“What about him?”—becomes a warning against monitoring other people’s lives instead of following Jesus. Even something good can become a distraction if it pulls attention away from one’s own calling.
Look for God in the middle of change
Furtick points to Acts 3, when Peter and John encounter a man who has been unable to walk since birth. On their way to pray at the temple, they stop, offer healing in Jesus’ name, and the man stands, walks, and praises God.
The story captures the sermon’s central idea: the miracle happens on the way, before Peter and John reach their destination. The man moves from begging at the temple gate to standing with Peter and John, and the crowd sees what God has done.
Practical Takeaways
- Weave worship into ordinary and difficult parts of the week, rather than waiting for a church service.
- Take the next faithful step even when the larger plan is unclear.
- Notice when nostalgia, “someday” thinking, or comparison is distracting you from the present.
- Stay attentive to people and needs that interrupt your plans; a disruption may become an opportunity to serve.
- Expect God to be present during the transition, not only after it is over.
Main Message
The sermon’s encouragement is that being “in between” does not mean being forgotten or broken. Furtick urges listeners to keep their eyes on Jesus, trust him through uncertain seasons, and recognize that God can work in the very process of moving forward.