The Middle Is Messy But, It’s Not the End
Dear Firebrand Generation,
W
elcome to June, the sixth mile of our twelve-mile journey.
This is part of the year when planners feel cluttered, prayers echo, and those once-bold New Year declarations fade into faint memories.
You’re tired. You’re stretched. And let’s be real, your “I’m walking by faith” is starting to feel more like “I’m crawling by fumes.”
But before you let anxiety steer the wheel or hopelessness set up camp in your heart, pause and breathe.
Because here’s the truth: you’re still here. And if you’re still here, God still has plans for you.
Now, let’s talk about the middle.
We’re in it right now, and it doesn’t feel like the promised land.
It feels like: “Are we there yet?”
It feels like: “I didn’t sign up for all this.”
It feels like: “Lord, blink twice if You’re still with me.”
The Story: That One Time I Almost Left the Grocery Store in Tongues
Let me take you back.
I was in line at the grocery store tired, over it, just trying to get in and out. I’d made it to the front when I heard it:
“Price check on aisle 4.”
Then the register froze.
Then the lady in front of me pulled out a coupon book the size of Leviticus.
And suddenly I felt the tension of being right there, almost done, almost free, but delayed.
My ice cream was melting. My patience was gone. I stood there muttering, “Jesus, if You don’t move, I might…”
And isn’t that life right now?
Right in the middle but everything feels stuck.
You thought you’d have clarity by now. Healing by now. A breakthrough. A spouse. A job. A reason not to scream into a pillow.
But instead, you’re holding melted dreams in one hand, and unanswered prayers in the other wondering where God is in the mess.
But hold on Firebrand
Even checkout lines end.
The Middle Is a Real Place
Let’s call it what it is:
The middle is when the excitement of January fades, and the grind of everyday life sets in. It’s a time when bills are high, morale is low, and the “promise” of a better future feels like a fairy tale that someone else is living. People are losing jobs, homes, and sense of self and wondering if God has overlooked them. You’re not lost; you’re in training. The middle isn’t meaningless; it’s the breakthrough under construction. But listen to me:
God is not just the God of beginnings or endings but the Lord of the middle. Even when the world feels chaotic, His presence remains constant.
What Happens When We Stay Stuck in the Middle?
Let’s be honest: the middle isn’t simply a season of stagnation; it’s a battleground. Many of us find ourselves not just in the middle but truly stuck in it.
We continue to pray, but we’ve stopped expecting. We show up, but we are slowly shutting down. When we cease to encourage ourselves in the Lord, we don’t simply pause; we risk falling into patterns that quietly stifle our purpose.
Emotional Paralysis
You’re not careless, you’re just exhausted.
Dreams fade. Hope dims. You slip into survival mode.
Spiritual Amnesia
You forget what God brought you through.
You doubt His words and question His faithfulness.
Fear-Based Decisions
You move from panic, not purpose.
You say “yes” to anything just to feel like you’re moving.
Self-Sabotage
You speak death over delay. You leave rooms you were called to. You start building Plan B because Plan A feels too far gone.
“David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” – 1 Samuel 30:6
No one came to hype him up. No friend sent a prophetic text. No preacher laid hands on him. He laid hands on himself. And sometimes? That’s the move.
Anchored in the Middle: When Life Feels Messy
You don’t need a new plan, just roots. The middle isn’t about perfection, but posture. Here’s how to re-anchor:
- Pray Before You Post
Talk to God before scrolling, venting, or shutting down. The world is loud, but Heaven listens. - Write Truth Over Feelings
Feelings shift faith stands. Write what God has done and already promised. - Start a “God Kept Me” List
Not just gratitude remembrance. He kept your mind, your peace, your sanity. - Pray Bold, Even Shaky
God doesn’t need filters just faith. Shaky prayers still shake Heaven. - Speak Up, Don’t Isolate
Tell someone, “I’m not okay, but I don’t want to stay here.” Healing needs community. - Revisit January’s Word
If God said it, it still stands. Reread it. Declare it. Believe it again.
Reflective Questions for the Firebrand in the Middle
Take 15 minutes this week. Journal. Reflect. Ask:
- What have I stopped praying for that I know God still wants to do?
- What lie have I believed about this season?
- Who do I need to invite into my healing and help hold me accountable?
- If I believed God still has something good planned for me what would I do differently this week?
Quote of the Month
“The middle isn’t simply a season of stagnation; it’s a battleground.”
A Prayer for the Firebrand Generation
God,
We’re tired. Not of You but of the waiting, the weight, the wondering. The world feels heavy. Life feels loud. And the middle feels like a mess. But we believe you’re still moving. We believe you’re still writing. And even when we don’t see it, we believe you’re still the God of miracles. Give us fire for the second half of this year. Please give us the endurance to outlast the storm.
And give us joy in the waiting, peace in the wilderness, and faith that finishes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wrapping It Up: Don’t Die in the Middle
Dear Firebrand Generation,
Firebrand,
If you’re in the middle, don’t mislabel it. It’s not your failure. It’s not your finish line. It’s not proof that God forgot. It’s the forge. The stretch. The space between what was promised and what’s about to be delivered.
And no, it doesn’t feel like a revival. It feels like survival. But survival proves that you’re breathing, and God is still building. So, wipe your eyes. Lift your head. And remind your soul:
“We’re not dying here. We’re going through.” The same God who saw you in January will crown you in December. The story isn’t over. The miracle is still moving. And your middle is about to make sense.
Key Takeaways: Truth in Tension
✅Not behind—just being built.
✅Not denied—just delayed.
✅Not buried—being planted.
✅Not stuck—being stretched.
✅Not silent—just sacred.
✅Not empty—being poured into.
✅Not broken—being birthed.
✅Not done—just in the middle.
Wooow, what a wonderful piece. God bless you WOG for this blog. It is always a joy to read your blog 🔥👌👏
Thank you so much! All glory to God. I’m grateful it blessed you and pray it continues to strengthen and ignite your spirit.
The Middle is Messy, but it’s Not the End! So good, and so much revelation:
Oh && I loved the entire section: Anchored in the Middle: When Life Feels Messy.
I heard the spirit of God speaking as I was reading. He told
me, don’t “curse” the middle as well. Speaking for myself, I’ve been in this place for a long time, and it seems as though you want to speak ill about the season. He said, don’t do that because that middle serves so much purpose- when you look at it from a spiritual lens. The pruning, character building, stamina, strengthening etc etc all happens in the middle—not at the final destination.
…Whew that thing freed me!!!
Whew what a word! *“Don’t curse the middle” * hit deep. The middle is where God does His real work pruning, building, stretching. It may feel long and messy, but it’s where roots grow and faith matures. God is doing something lasting *in* you, not just *for* you. 🔥Thank you for sharing
We have to remember to encourage ourselves in the Lord when we’re in the messy middle. If not, we can easily become discouraged and fall off the wagon. Moreover, we have to also try our best to encourage one another as iron sharpeneth iron. Thanks for this timely Word Ms. Mensah. God bless you.🙏🏾
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! You’re absolutely right, when we’re in the messy middle, it’s easy to lose sight of the promise if we’re not intentional about anchoring ourselves in God’s truth. I’m so grateful we get to walk this journey together, sharpening one another in love and faith. May God continue to strengthen and bless you richly as you press forward. We’re not just surviving, we’re becoming.
Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words! You’re absolutely right, when we’re in the messy middle, it’s easy to lose sight of the promise if we’re not intentional about anchoring ourselves in God’s truth. I’m so grateful we get to walk this journey together, sharpening one another in love and faith. May God continue to strengthen and bless you richly as you press forward. We’re not just surviving, we’re becoming.
With love,
Ms. Mensah