Day at the Races: And Down the Stretch They Come! — Wednesday
Philippians 1:6
…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (NIV)
If you’ve ever spent any time with me or my wife, you would know that one of our favorite hobbies is DIY home projects. We both love to learn new things in relation to home renovation projects and try our working hand at constructing them. Did I also mention that we have a lot of fun doing this together? As much fun as we have doing projects together, I’ve also noticed that we both have a tendency to get frustrated when we don’t see results. It took us weeks to figure out certain cuts for a backsplash project that we worked on. However, we stayed focused and eventually completed what we started. If you’ve never completed a home project before, I must say that it is one of the most rewarding and satisfying feelings to live among something you have assembled yourself.
My experience with home renovation reminds me in many ways of God’s work in us. It is encouraging for me to know that God has started a good work in me, but it is even more encouraging to know that He will continue this good work in me until my last day. Similar to how I get frustrated when I don’t see results in my projects, I can also get frustrated when I don’t see results in my spiritual life. It’s frustrating to me when I still struggle with the same sin or I fall short of my own expectations. However, God has never been frustrated with me. On the contrary, He gracefully offers me second chances each day and faithfully molds me into His image. In his letter, Paul encourages us to be confident in this truth, knowing that God will never give up on us and He will be faithful to complete what He started. Maybe you’re in a season of your life where you feel like you’ve fallen too short or walked too far away from God. Wherever you may be right now, be confident in knowing that God is still working on you and He won’t finish until you are complete in Him—and just imagine how pleased He will be.
Wednesday’s Reflection
If you’ve felt frustrated recently because you haven’t seen “progress” in your spiritual life, I ask that you say this prayer with me today: Lord, YOU began a good work in me. The work is up to You and not my own strength. Forgive me when I’ve doubted You and let disappointment in myself cloud my view of You. Remind me that You are faithful to finish what You have begun. You have never begun a good work and let it go to waste. I trust you, Jesus, and I trust Your work in me. Amen.
