Everything I desire doesn’t appear all at once. Sometimes it doesn’t appear at all. However, some goals happen in phases, requiring me to seek God in my uncertainty, receive encouragement from others and learn how to adapt along the way.

Whenever a new phase begins, I’m grateful if it comes at the end of reaching a goal. But before I reach the end, what about the middle? I’ve learned it can be both messy and magnificent.

By middle, I mean the phase in a process where the unexpected tests our endurance or the unaddressed can no longer be ignored. It’s where the hard work becomes heavy or what we’re wishing for seems distant.

Looking at how far we’ve come may be encouraging, until we realize how much further we have to go.

My fascination with the midway point has a purpose. We’re halfway through the teen years of raising our son. I’m through the first 5 chapters of writing my next book. My age declares the dare-to-be-you season of midlife.

Your middle may not be mine. But you have a midpoint too.

Perhaps you’re trying to make a decision, fulfill a dream or adjust to a requirement. We each have the constant challenge of sorting through emotions and realizing the consequences and rewards in taking our next steps.

But in order to embrace our next, we must be willing to grow past our now.

Whether we’re finding ways to deal with messy or maintaining what’s magnificent, we can also find ourselves in the hands of God. In Scripture, we read about people whose hearts were broken or perplexed at the halfway point.

Noah built and boarded the ark. Yet, I’m sure there were days when he needed more supplies or the crowd was unkind. (Genesis 6:9 – 7:24)

The Israelites journeyed to the Promise Land. But the only ones who made it beyond its borders, were the ones who trusted God. (Joshua 5:5-7)

The disciples fulfilled the Great Commission. But, first they had to grieve Christ’s death and wait for His resurrection. (Matthew 28)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9

This verse reminds us not to give up in the middle — no matter how grim things become or how grand the dream.

Being in the middle may be tough; but with God, the middle implies there is more. 

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. - Ephesians 3:20

By His grace, I’m learning to make the most of the middle. It has a unique place in any journey and a unique purpose in you and me.

The middle is where I’ve learned to fight to the end — the end of insisting on having my way and the beginning of committing to the will of God.

We can put an end to being led by our emotions and become more aware of His grace.

Even if we have heartache at the halfway point, we don’t have to stay there. Fear may tell us to brace for the worst. But the worst thing that can happen in the middle — or at any point along the way — is for me to stop trusting God to shape an ending beyond my wildest dreams.

He finishes what He starts, so even in the middle, there’s hope for the heart and joy to the soul.

Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. - Ecclesiastes 3:11