Ever feel stuck in the middle of major change? Whether it's work, family, relationships, church? Everyone should be raising their hands. I'm raising both. I've been blessed with the season of everything happening at once. My entire world turned on its head and every aspect of my life that once was stable is now all changing.
Frustration has been a key word. Frustration at the peace I feel in such a confusing time. Frustration over my community dispersing even though I know the hand of God is working in their lives and circumstances. Frustration in being called into a season of unfamiliarity and confusion YET again.
But lately God has been changing my frustration into expectation.
Expectation that the LORD has never forsaken me or left me and never will. Expectation that the LORD will protect, provide and prepare me. Expectation that His abundance will cover me, that His grace is enough for me. Expectation that this is THE MIDDLE NOT THE END.
"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6
The good stuff happens in the middle. God's presence is in the process, in the middle, common middle, mundane middle, the miracle is in the middle.
WE KNOW THE CROSS ISNT THE END, ISNT THE FINAL DESTINATION, IT'S JUST THE MIDDLE.
Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The same grace that covered the gap from where I was to where I am is the same grace that will cover the gap from where I am to where I want to be. The gap that makes me grateful and a gap that makes me grow. It's all in the middle.
I press towards the mark, I will not quit in the middle. And maybe, just maybe it's not about getting me out of the middle, but letting God in.
Friend's I just want to encourage you. If you find yourself in the middle of any situation in your life currently, take courage, the LORD your God is already in it, already ahead of it, and it's in the middle that His glory gets revealed.
Stop running from what God saved you out of and start running toward what God saved you for. Turn your frustration into expectation. Turn your fear into faith. Turn your disappointments into praise. Turn your questions into peace that surpasses all understanding. Turn your gaze from your situation to the King who has overcome it all.
Find the joy in the middle.
Because the middle is where is all begins.
Cheers to the middle my friends, you are not alone.