The Middle Matters

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" – Psalm 27:14 
  
We all know the moments when life throws us a curveball, the breaking news that changes everything. It could be a diagnosis, a job loss, or a relationship that crumbles. In those moments, emotions flood in: fear, sadness, anger, confusion.  

Then, after the initial shock fades, our thoughts usually turn to the future, wondering when God will deliver us from this situation. We focus on the light at the end of the tunnel, hoping it comes soon.  

But what about the middle? No one likes to talk about the middle. It’s not glamorous. It’s not exciting. And yet, it’s often where God does His best work.
 
The "in the meantime" stage of life can feel like a desert—dry, lonely, and endless. It’s that space between the moment when everything falls apart and the time when God delivers you. It’s hard to be patient in the middle. You want to speed things up, figure out a way through it faster.  

But the reality is, you can’t rush what God is doing. Only He knows how long you’ll be in the waiting season. But here’s the good news: the middle isn’t a waste of time. In fact, it’s often the place where God is most active, shaping and molding you into the person you need to be for what’s next.
 
Think about it like this—if you were delivered the moment you asked, you’d miss out on all the growth, learning, and refining that takes place in the meantime. The middle is where God strengthens your faith, teaches you perseverance, and shows you how to rely on Him completely. It’s often in this stage that you experience God’s presence more deeply because you have no choice but to trust Him for each step.

So, as painful and uncomfortable as it may be, don’t rush through the middle. Let God work in the waiting. Trust that He has a purpose for this time and that He is preparing you for what’s coming next. You may not know how long you’ll be here, but you can know this: God is faithful, and He is working on your behalf, even in the moments that feel stagnant.
 
The middle may not be easy, but it is necessary. So take heart in the meantime, because the God who allowed you to enter this season is the same God who will carry you through it.