I hate being in the middle. Maybe it’s some weird psychological thing that I have because I’m the oldest child. Maybe it’s because I don’t like confined spaces. I’m not sure what it is. All I know is that I hate being the middle. Of anything.

I don’t like the middle seat on airplanes or in cars. I don’t like being in the middle of the line. I kinda hate that I have the middle office. There’s just something about the middle that bothers me.

This can be difficult because life has given me quite a few situations where I’m in the middle. And honestly, it’s a challenge. What I find most challenge is the time where I’m stuck in the middle of a blessing.

Being stuck in the middle of a blessing seems like a nice place to be. You’re receiving the very thing that God promised and that you believed Him for. Your life is moving forward, and it seems like things are coming together.  But then something changes.  You realize that this blessing requires more than you expected.  You begin to feel that you don’t have what you need for this blessing.  This new blessing just doesn’t fit well.  It’s something that you have to grow into.

Ahhh growth.  It’s a sneaky little sucker that just won’t quit.  Just when I think that I’m in a good place and things are moving right along, I get bitten by this growth bug.  It’s what forces me to change, realizing that if I’ve been blessed with more, I have to not only do more, I have to be more.

But sometimes it’s not just growth that is challenging about being in the middle of a blessing.  It’s also difficult because you’re in an unfamiliar place.  Your guards are up, your attention to detail is high because you have to soak in every piece of knowledge to continue to learn and thrive.  You don’t know who to trust or to rely on, and you’re forced to just keep going.  Day in and day out, you have to keep moving.  You have to keep moving because it’s your only option; because not moving, standing still, is actually sinking back and getting behind.  You have to keep moving because the only way to get TO is to go THROUGH.

If there was another option, you’d have surely taken it.  Because who chooses to go through something that’s difficult, even if it IS a blessing?  However, if we are honest with ourselves, we can admit that there are things that we’ve learned through those difficult times.  As the more seasoned saints would say, “I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now”.

So, be encouraged.  If you find yourself “in the middle”, remember that you have to go THROUGH to get TO.  Being in the middle of a blessing is one of the best places you can be- even if it doesn’t feel like it.  But our journey is more than feelings, it is one of faith.

Some scriptures to encourage you while you’re “in the middle” of your blessing:

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.  You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” –Hebrews 10:35-36

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”- James 1:2-4