Philippians 1:6
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”
Thoughts from Amanda Cook
Dive Deeper
Behind the Scenes
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi toward the end of his life while he was in prison. Unlike some of his letter, Paul was not writing to the Philippians to correct or rebuke them, but instead to celebrate and thank them. His love for the church in Philippi is clearly evident in this letter.
Paul saw that God was moving in the church at Philippi and he wrote to encourage them to stand firm. The believers in this time were coming under more and more persecution, as Paul’s imprisonment was evidence of. But Paul had found a joy and contentment in trusting what God was doing even during the hardship. Paul recognized that God was at work, even when they couldn’t see what He was doing.
Paul definitely had a reason to doubt that God had everything under control. He suffered so much for the sake of the Gospel that he could have been tempted to think God had abandoned him or forgotten him. But instead, he said over and over that he trusted God and that in his suffering, he grew closer to Christ. See for Paul, it wasn’t about physical comforts or earthly ease. It was about knowing Christ more. And this hunger to know the Savior created in Paul a more eternal mindset and more peace and contentment than the world around him.
So, when Paul writes this verse, he isn’t saying it flippantly. He means every word. He has gained this glimpse into the workings of God and he knows that what God begins, He always finishes. Paul understands that the work of transformation, sanctification, and redemption is often slow and steady. And he is writing to encourage the believers in Philippi not to lose heart or become impatient. God was at work in Philippi!
Make it Real
I don’t know about you, but I often find myself telling God to speed things up. I think I have an idea of how things should go and how fast God should move. When things are uncomfortable, I want relief to be instant and complete. When I have a dream for something God might do, I want to see it happen tomorrow. When I think something needs to change, I want to tackle the problem and make the change now. Waiting is not always my forte.
But God doesn’t work on my timeline. I’ve learned that when I try to rush God, I always end up running ahead of Him. I push and strive against an immovable God, all the while thinking that if I just push a little more, God will cave and do what I want. Sometimes I subconsciously think that God needs my advice or my input, like if I don’t tell Him, He won’t know what to do!
Even writing those words out makes me cringe! But I think we all do this in one way or another. Real faith requires us to surrender, not just to the plans of God, but also to the timing of God. It requires us to trust that God is fully faithful, fully capable, and most importantly, fully good. When we understand that God’s ways are always better than our own, and when we are truly ready to let go of the wheel, we find the peace that Paul had sitting in a jail cell, writing these words of hope.
What are you waiting for today? What promise has God whispered to your heart that you have yet to see fulfilled? What struggle are you waiting to find deliverance from? Whatever it is, God is enough to carry it. He is enough to take care of every detail in the perfect way. And He is enough to work it out in His perfect timing. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.”
He will complete it because HE, (not us) is more than enough!
Crystal Garnett
ACF Digital Discipleship Team Lead
End in Prayer
Hey God!
Thank You for always working, even when I can’t see what you are doing. Thank You that Your plans for me are always good and Your timing is always perfect. Help me to trust You more today. Help me to rest in the assurance that what You began in me, You will be faithful to finish.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen