People tend to focus on the beginning and the ending of things, ignoring the middle. In a journey of any kind, the beginning is exciting and new, the end is the reward, the goal, but what about the middle part? Everything in between seems to blend together. But don’t ignore it. The middle is where you grow and learn the most.

You may feel stuck and wondering what’s next but that might be the greatest time of learning for you. God may be preparing you for something up ahead that you can’t see from where you are now. All that preparation takes place in the middle. Ask yourself, are you truly stuck or are you moving forward in the middle of a learning cycle?

Scripture talks about being trained to endure in times like these honing you in Godly perseverance. James 1:2-4, “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.”

You won’t get that time of growth at any other part of the journey other than in the middle. It comes solely from climbing the mountain. Appreciate the fullness of the journey, not just the beginning and the end. The true race, the part where you really learn who you are is the middle.