“…confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6, NIV).

A Christian physician, whom I should not name for safety reasons, told me of God’s faithfulness to complete that which He had started. He and his wife have led a ministry to Afghanistan for many years that included medical care, personal evangelism and hospice development. When the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan, their ability to continue ministry in person was torn from them. The Taliban takeover led to the migration of many Afghans to the U.S. and some to my friend’s city. He, and particularly his wife, became dedicated to helping these refugees find housing, medical care and transportation. Though all the Afghans had been raised in Islam with severe consequences of becoming Christian in their homeland, a small Afghan Christian church has begun, here in their town. My friend was overflowing with delight when he shared with me the news that five refugees had accepted Christ and were recently baptized in his swimming pool.

What work has God begun through you that seems aborted, frustrated or impossible to achieve?

Is it your witness to a friend for many years that continues to fall on deaf ears?

Is it a child you love who has turned away from the Lord, while you are constantly seeking ways to bring them back to the Father?

Is it a ministry, like my friend’s, that seems to have come to a dead-end because of circumstances beyond your control?

Is it a particular sin or addiction in your life that you thought you had overcome with the Lord, and it keeps crawling back?

God has a word for us as we imagine our failure in completing His work…it’s not us; it’s Him.

“As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11, NIV).

It’s all about His power, His plan, His outcomes. Our job is but to show up, surrender and obey.

François Fénelon said, “The only thing that lies within our power is the direction of our will.”

Dear Father,

Let me not forget my part, and let me always trust you with yours.

Amen