Daily Bread - Faith in the Middle - Jan 7, 2026

Most of us know how to start strong.

And we all love a good testimony at the end.

But the middle is different.

The middle is where excitement fades and obedience has to carry you. It’s where prayers feel repetitive, progress feels slow, and faith starts asking harder questions. Scripture doesn’t ignore this season. It speaks directly to it.

Paul writes in Galatians 6:9, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Notice the focus. Not on quitting sin, but on growing weary while doing good. Weariness doesn’t mean you’re failing. It often means you’ve been faithful longer than you expected.

Hebrews 10:36 reminds us, “You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.” That verse tells us something important. Obedience doesn’t always lead immediately to fulfillment. Sometimes it leads straight into waiting.

This is where many believers get discouraged. We assume delay means denial, or silence means absence. But Scripture shows us a different picture. God often does His deepest work in the middle. He uses it to refine motives, strengthen faith, and prepare us to carry what’s coming next.

Think about Israel. Deliverance from Egypt happened in a moment, but formation happened in the wilderness. Freedom was instant. Maturity took time. The middle was uncomfortable, but it was necessary.

The same is true for us.

The middle exposes where our trust really is. It reveals whether we’re walking by faith or by feelings. It teaches us to rely on God when there’s no visible reward yet.

Isaiah 40:31 says, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” Waiting on God isn’t passive. It’s active trust. It’s choosing to stay faithful when quitting would feel easier. If you’re in the middle right now, hear this. God has not forgotten you. He is not behind schedule. And your faithfulness matters more than you realize.

Hebrews 6:10 assures us that God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love.
The middle is not wasted time. It’s preparation time.

So don’t quit.
Don’t grow bitter.
Don’t measure your faith by your feelings.

Stay faithful. Stay planted. Stay obedient.

God is working, even here.