The Best Is Yet To Come

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

When my husband and I were newlyweds, we lived near the Smoky Mountains and hiked as often as we could. One hike in particular tried my faith in my husband’s choice of trails. While he grew up exploring the great outdoors, I didn’t start hiking until we got married. When I envisioned a hiking adventure, what came to mind was a short trip to a waterfall and back, not a strenuous eight-hour trek on a lonely trail. But he’d done this hike before, and he knew the result would be worth the many miles (and many complaints from me along the way).

“When are we going to see a pretty view?” I asked. “I’m so hungry. Are there bears out here? Is this going to be worth it? Where’s the bathroom? I’m so tired. My legs feel like jelly.” On and on I went, as we traversed the uphill trail, complaining to my ever-so-patient husband.

When we finally reached our destination, I took it all back—every complaint, every sigh, every doubt, every fear that we’d come across a bear and have to run for our lives. The panorama of endless hills blanketed by trees that looked like tiny specks of broccoli took my breath away. My husband knew the show-stopping view that awaited our arduous journey, and he meant it when he said, “The best is yet to come.”

Sometimes our journey of sanctification and growing in Christ-likeness feels like an endless uphill hike. We forget God’s past faithfulness and worry that his promises will fail. We despise the mundane routines that make up the bulk of our days and wonder what good God could produce in our hearts as we go to work, fix dinner, and fold laundry yet again.

In his letter to the church at Philippi, the apostle Paul assures believers of God’s continual work of sanctification in their lives. He says, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God will finish the work he has started in our hearts. Even when we are facing an arduous journey and we wonder when reprieve will come, he is still doing good, because he is good.

God is using the daily happenings in your life to scrub your soul and shape your desires to be more like his. He is giving you the endurance you need to keep putting one foot in front of the other. He is removing idols from the throne of your heart that can never satisfy. He is giving you opportunities to see his faithfulness on display (see 1 John 3:2).

God is always doing good in the lives of his people, even when we can’t see the end result or understand his means. The best truly is yet to come for those who place their trust in him.

Word before World God is still doing good in the midst of your wandering, waiting, and wondering.

Grow in Grace The next time you feel tempted to complain about your circumstances, look for the good God is doing and the ways he is shaping your heart to be like his.