The Messy Middle and the Life You Didn’t See Coming

If you told me years ago that I would get to have this life, I wouldn’t have believed you.

A life crafted with intention. Slow mornings that feel sacred. Days lived with purpose, for a purpose. And yet—even in the messy middle, in the imperfection, there is so much beauty.

In the stretching, the growing, the moments that challenge me, love is abundant. I look at my family—the little hands I get to hold, the voices that call me “Mom,” the quiet, tender moments we share—and my heart overflows. Even in the hard, even in the stretching, there is grace, there is joy, there is opportunity waiting to unfold. This life? It’s everything I couldn’t have imagined—and more.

And above all, my heart is full of gratitude—for this life, for my family, and for the privilege of being able to love and bless others along the way.

The truth is, life isn’t perfect. There are stretching seasons, hard conversations, and moments that leave me breathless in ways I didn’t expect. And yet… in the middle of it all, there is so much love. So much laughter. So much grace.

Life has a way of stretching us, of teaching us patience, resilience, and trust. When we find ourselves in the unknown, in the in-between moments of ordinary life, there’s a hidden gift waiting: the chance to lean into God like never before. It’s in these moments that our connection with Him deepens, not because life is perfect, but because we are honest, open, and fully dependent on His strength.

If I could whisper to my younger self, I’d say:“You won’t understand it yet, but every struggle, every tear, every season of waiting is carving out a beauty you can’t yet see. Hold on, because joy, love, and fullness are coming—and they are beyond what you’ve dreamed.”

Even when life stretches us, even when it challenges us, even in the messy middle, love is abundant. And when we lean into God in those moments—when we bring Him our messy hearts, our fears, our doubts—we experience a fullness that is deeper than any perfect plan we could imagine.

This life, even in its imperfection, is breathtaking. And the more we allow God into the stretch, the more we realize that He is not just carrying us through the hard parts—He is showing us the beauty, shaping us into who we were always meant to be, and filling our ordinary days with extraordinary love.

So if today feels uncertain, like you’re in the mundane moments of ordinary life, remember: it is in these very moments that connection deepens, hearts expand, and life becomes fuller than you could have ever believed possible.

John 16:13-14 (NLT)

"When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own but will tell you what He hears. He will tell you about the future. He will bring Me glory by telling you whatever He receives from Me."

Jesus, I come to You just as I am—my ordinary moments, my messy heart, my everyday life. I don’t have it all together, and I don’t need to. I bring You my joys, my fears, my doubts, and everything in between.

Holy Spirit, draw near. Teach me to recognize Your voice in the quiet, to feel Your presence in the stretching seasons, and to guide me in the in-between moments of ordinary life. Show me how to lean fully on Jesus, to surrender my plans, and to live in step with Your truth and love.

I want to know You more deeply, to trust You more fully, and to open my heart to the way You transform even the simplest, most ordinary parts of my day. Fill me with Your presence, guide my steps, and let my life be a reflection of Your love and grace.

Amen.