Finished. Do you have any projects or goals you’re working on that you’re anticipating the finish line? I just finished some kitchen renovations that nearly took the entire summer to complete. We painted our kitchen cabinets, and while I read about how complex a process it could be, I was determined to make it through. With an open mind, this renovation has allowed me to learn how to embrace the whole process.

Are you in the middle of a project? Maybe you’re thinking, why did I start this? Will I ever finish it? Or perhaps you’re in the middle of a difficult season?

There is so much we can learn in the middle of the process—the middle matters just as much as the beginning and the end. When we choose to embrace the process, we find peace. We find contentment and freedom.

I want to share a few things I’ve learned from my project renovation.

Whatever we set out to do, we can entrust it to the care of Jesus. In the beginning, before you even get to the middle, ask Jesus to be with you. When painting coat after coat, I made it a time to talk with Jesus. Those moments that seem like life tasks can be opportunities to spend time with our Creator. The One within us is right there for us to always consult with, yes, even in a painting project. Even when we need to know whether to turn left or right, in all things, Jesus invites us to entrust it to Him.

Something else I learned in this renovation is to trust the process. I could have quickly decided not to paint because of listening to what others said about all that can go wrong in a renovation process like this one. But what about everything that can go right?

Follow your intuition (that one from the Holy Spirit) and your heart. Were there mistakes along the way? Absolutely. Splattered paint on the floor. The paint runs dried in need of sanding. These mistakes are simply learning opportunities to grow.

For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.

John 12:49-50

I love these words spoken by Jesus. There was a lot of conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders, but Jesus would not reject anything from the Father. Whatever the Father does, Jesus does.

Looking beyond painting kitchen cabinets for a moment, what do we do with those things we know the Holy Spirit is stirring within our hearts, yet it doesn’t align with what others suggest? What does Jesus say? What does the Father say? That’s the right path to choose. In moments like this, I can’t help but think of Noah. Can you imagine what others were thinking when he started to build a massive ark before rain was a thing?

Something I’ve also realized is the middle matters. The middle is a crucial ingredient to making us whole. While we may get weary in the middle, the middle holds a lot of substance. Just as house renovations take time, so do our heart and mind renovations. I believe we miss out on growth without embracing that in-between time. We don’t have to rush through the middle. Rather, we can enjoy it.

We can’t always expect things to change in an instant. It takes work, but it’s worth it. And the middle is worth it, too. We can hope in the middle as we anticipate what is to come. We can grow in faith as we choose to trust in the One who knows best. Embrace the middle, and embrace the waiting.

Finished. The kitchen cabinets are finally painted, five coats of paint later. It was a long but growing process, not just for my kitchen but for my heart. Is my painting perfect? Probably not, but imperfection is a beautiful reminder that I made it through the entire process. And I know as I entrust everything to Jesus, He will continue guiding me in every life process, from beginning, middle, and end.

May we embrace the whole process because when we do, we become whole.