When I read the Bible, my imagination brings the stories to life. I always picture Moses as Charlton Heston from “The Ten Commandments,” but even that classic movie doesn’t capture the gritty reality. The Red Sea crossing is often shown as a dramatic, straightforward miracle, but it was much messier and more intimidating in my mind.
Reading Exodus again recently, I mulled on the fact that the crossing wasn’t simple or comfortable. The sea floor would have been wet, rocky, and covered in shells or slimy things. Every step would have required caution. Walls of water loomed on both sides, and while the sound alone must have been quite intimidating, you would also constantly be thinking “what if this collapses?”. Behind them was Pharaoh and his army, closing in. In front of them was an unknown destination. They were walking toward something they could not yet see.
This is what stands out to me. The Red Sea crossing was not the end of the journey, and it was not the beginning. It was the middle, and the middle of any process is often the hardest part.
In the middle, things feel unstable, yet stopping is not an option. Just like it was for the Israelites, the only way out is forward. This reminds me of the analogy that if you walk into an active operating theatre without knowing what it is, it will look like a crime scene. For me, this is where this story becomes very practical. Even when we’re exactly where we ought to be, the journey can still feel uncomfortable and challenging. Still, the instruction remains the same: keep going.
“In the middle, things feel unstable, yet stopping is not an option.”
How to Keep Going When You’re in the Middle
Focus on the Vision
Ensure that focus on your goals matters to you more than comfort does. In transition, don’t pursue ease. Instead, lock in on what God has told you, and keep moving forward even when the path is unclear.
Vision needs reinforcement, especially during difficult seasons. Reinforce your vision by writing it down, reading it often, and even saying it out loud. It will remind you why you started and give meaning to your effort. As Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision and make it plain.”
Choose the Right Company and Be Accountable
No matter how independent we think we are, we are still influenced by those around us. They play a role in whether we focus or get distracted. Because the Israelites were chronic murmurers in the wilderness, they were surrounded by fear, doubt, and constant negativity that made progress feel impossible. Conversely, encouraging voices help you stay steady and remind you that the destination is worth the effort. That’s why I seek out disciplined and bold friends who push me past my comfort zone, particularly younger individuals and highly disciplined peers, because I admire how they are not inhibited by experience.
I often think of the biology experiment where a mouse in an open cage only goes as far as it has been trained to go; if it isn’t pushed to go for the food, it stays within its known limits. I refuse to stay within my comfort limits. In addition to pushing you, the right company will also hold you accountable. Years ago, running a wellness company with a business partner taught me that true success means staying true to your principles and high standards, even when it’s hard. Now, with my publishing company, I again see the value of a partner who holds you accountable. As Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one”—accountability pulls you through when you want to give up.
Take the Journey One Step at a Time
No one crossed the Red Sea all at once; they crossed it step by step. When the waters parted, the Israelites didn’t find a paved highway; they found a seabed that required steady, unhurried movement. If you are in the middle of a season where you feel uncertain and stretched, remember that the crossing only works if you keep moving. The noise of the pursuing army may not stop, and the ground beneath you may remain uneven, but the path forward opens as you walk it.
The journey to fulfilment is an act of sustained faith. Just as Moses had to stretch out his hand and the people had to physically step into the path, your progress comes from focusing on the next right action rather than trying to solve the entire journey in a single moment. We find this principle of divine pacing in Psalm 119:105:
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
A lamp doesn’t illuminate the entire horizon at once; it gives you just enough light for the very next step. In the same way God didn’t show the Israelites the entire wilderness journey while they were still in the middle of the sea, He provides the grace you need for today. Focus on the ground immediately in front of you. As long as you are moving toward the “Moses” voice of your purpose, you are moving toward your deliverance.
Keep going.
The Promised Land (your goals, dreams, prize) is ahead!
