Walking Through The Middle

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Aaron’s phone and mine both buzzed with a loved one’s text: “I woke up with symptoms that need to be checked by my doctor. I’ve got an appointment for 10:00 a.m.”

Our friend has been on a journey with his health, and his brief text contained layers of unspoken thoughts and emotions. We knew the possibility of certain complications, and our friend had confessed his fear even as he stood firmly on his faith. As we rallied in prayer for peace, wisdom, and discernment, and ordinary and extraordinary miracles, I asked Jesus to be a tangible presence, a steady assurance to our friend that he is seen and loved even in these scary, uncertain moments.

The middle is my least favorite part of any journey. Even fun journeys tend to have an un-fun middle, a space we quietly gloss over when sharing the highlight reels with others. Middles are often filled with hard work, uncertainty, and chaos as we journey through them, sometimes toward an unknown end. The middle requires trust, patience, and reliance upon God, pulling us out of our comfort zone and shattering our illusions of control.

There is one unconditional guarantee about the middle: God accompanies us. We are not left alone in those dark places. My wisest, most deeply faith-rooted friends would tell you that their unshakable faith foundations were forged in the middles. And I would say the same. It is there that we learn to rely upon God in new ways, entrusting him with our loved ones and ourselves when there is nothing else left to do. I hate the middles, but I acknowledge that my faith has a sturdy and strong footing because of them.

Can we pray for rescue while simultaneously thanking God for drawing near and revealing more of himself to us? I believe so. There is space for prayerful pleas even as we praise and thank him in every circumstance, including the hardest ones.

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Instead of resorting to clichés that are meant to soothe but often feel flippant, specifically pray for God to be tangibly present as loved ones walk through difficult circumstances. Isaiah 43:2, above, is a wonderful place to start.