Carry it On to Completion
We know that Jesus’s death brings us redemption and his resurrection brings us new life.
As comforting as that is, we sometimes seem out of touch with this hope as we deal with everyday life. Sure, we are living in a time where forgiveness is already made available to us. However, we are still born sinfully natured and born into an imperfect world.
We all have parts of our lives that feel dead. Parts that aren’t producing any growth or change. They can feel like tombs we visit regularly that are riddled with fear, shame, and loss.
I lost my job last year. No, I wasn’t fired. I was a temp worker for a company down in Corbin. It was a long commute, but I really liked this job. However, I was informed two weeks before my contract ended that this company had no intentions to renew or extend my contract.
I didn’t want to tell anybody about this sudden job change. Telling people just made the situation realer and scarier. I dreaded so many social gatherings because of the few people who would ask me, “What are you doing now that you’re out of school?” I know that these people were never judging me, but I would judge myself whenever I had to bring it up. Then came the weeks of waiting at home, sending out application after application, and shaking my fist at God.
I learned several things during this job transition. But the main thing was if devastation can take on many different forms, then so can hope.
Here’s the hope we have about our tombs or the parts of life that feel dead:
Philippians 1:6 (niv)
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.
Our walks with Jesus do not end at that first moment of salvation, but they continue as we develop personal relationships with God. His intention is to slowly change our hearts to be more like Jesus. That means God will often use the dead parts of our lives to further this transformation.
One of the ways he brings about this transformation is by retraining our perspectives—teaching us to focus on what God is doing rather than what we would like him to do. Because when we shift our focus to see hope, that’s when we see Jesus. This is not something that comes naturally to us, but the more we do it, the easier it becomes. Joseph learned this after reconciling with his brothers in Genesis.
Genesis 50:20 (niv)
You intended to harm me, but God intended it to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
In my job transition, I learned how many ways God could provide for me and my husband. My need allowed God to bring gratitude out of my heart. I didn’t realize it at the time, but the time I was let go at my last job was the same time that my current job was vacated. This job paid better and was only ten minutes from my house—no more hour-long commutes for me. I felt ashamed of myself for shaking my fist at God when he was preparing me to be in a better situation all along.
If you find yourself in your own seemingly hopeless situation, take heart in knowing that God is not done working in your life. Even if you’ve given up on yourself, God has not given up on you. It won’t be easy and it might take some time, but God has a plan for your life, and he will carry it out until you see him in glory.
I leave you with this, friends: where in your life do you need to shift your focus in order to see Jesus?
Through the remainder of this week, you can find reflections here at vineyardrichmond.com. Use them to prompt yourself to focus on your faith in a fresh way. If what you are learning is meaningful to you, click one of the share buttons at the top of these posts to share it with your friends. Let this be a time of personal reflection and careful examination of our own hearts and minds.