Are You Done Yet, Lord?

“…as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him… These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won’t last very long..  So we do not look at what we can see right now… but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 3 and 4, (Living Bible)

It seemed as though the challenges would never end.

An aging parent fell and broke her hip.

A brother’s cancer wasn’t responding to treatment.

And the everyday annoyances of broken appointments, mislaid papers and extreme weather conditions gnawed away at Carolyn’s peace. After yet one more irritating phone call about an unforeseen change of plans, she cried out, “Are you done yet, Lord?” When she related this to me, I wanted to say, “No, Carolyn, he’s never ‘done’ with forming us into his image and all these things are just some of the ways in which he asks us to trust him.” Fortunately, at Carolyn’s plaintive question I just put my arms around her and asked how I could help.

When we commit our lives to God and his loving plan for us, he commits himself to making us more and more like Christ. Keeping our eyes focused on him and his plan for our lives is a spiritual discipline during which his grace flows through us and our joy increases.

Lord, help me remember that you are never finished making me look increasingly like Christ. Give me strength to submit to your loving plan. In Jesus name, Amen.

How have you seen God work in your life in very practical ways this week?

By Marilyn Ehle
used be permission

Further Reading

Handling Today’s Challenges – by Gail Rodgers

Facing the Lions –  by Idelette McVicker

When Life’s Challenge is Beyond Our Strength

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