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

Being in the middle of something can be disheartening.  Remember when you were a kid, sitting in the back seat of the car in the middle of a long road trip and you kept asking your parents, “Are we there yet?!”  So frustrating!  But when you’re in the middle of treatment for cancer, or you’re in the middle of years of prayer for someone you love who’s walked away from Jesus, in “the middle” can be an excruciatingly painful place to be.

My friend, Chris, says that “Faith is for the middle”—and he’s so right. In the beginning of something, it’s easy to rely on ourselves, our abilities and near the end, we think we can make it because we can see the finish line.  Not so the middle.

In the Old Testament of the Bible, there’s an interesting “middle story.”  The Israelites were defending themselves from an enemy.  Their leaders, Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of a hill to ask God for help.  Moses lifted his hands in prayer. As long as his hands were raised, Israel prevailed. But in the middle of the battle, Moses just got tired!  They gave him a rock to sit on and Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on each side until the sun went down and the enemy was vanquished.

In the middle, we need faith in the God who says, “I will complete the good work I began!” (Philippians 1:6) and friends who will hold our arms up.

 

Resource reading: Exodus 17:8-16