Unfinished Works of Art

This past July I turned 41.

Never have I given my age a second thought. It's a number and one that doesn't define me. But for some reason, 41 has been staring me in the face like a proverbial Mary Poppins holding up her measuring tape to Jane and Michael Banks, reminding me that I am far from being "practically perfect in every way". I've struggled with the "why am I still wrestling with this?" questions and the "I should be further along!" expectations.

Recently, my friend asked me to read a scripture during her wedding ceremony. I was honored she asked and I told her I would. Little did my friend or I know that the scripture the Lord impressed on my heart to share was precisely what I needed.

Here is what I shared:

Philippians 1:6

“And 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.”

The Creator of the universe, the One who walks the depths of the oceans (Job 38:16) and refreshes barren lands with rain: the One who makes the tender grass spring up (Job 38:27) and places wisdom in the heart and understanding in the mind (Job 38:36), He is the one who initiated a good work in you. A work that is beneficial for you and brings glory to his name.

The One who intimately knows you and knitted you together in your mother’s womb (Psalm 119:13) is committed, faithful, and determined to perfect His work in you until Jesus returns. His work brings healing and transforms your heart to reflect His humble, gentle, and loving heart, and this work lasts for a lifetime. No one enters marriage perfect and there will never be a point in your life where you won’t need God to keep working in you.

You get front-row seats to the work God is doing in each other.

You get the privilege of observing firsthand and celebrating the healing and growth God’s work yields in each other. You intimately get to see areas of needed growth and can come boldly before your Father in heaven to confess and ask for grace together (Hebrews 4:16). Scripture declares that true love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance (1 Corinthians 13:7). One of the reasons it is possible to love each other this way is because your hope is not anchored in each other. Your hope is anchored in God, who demonstrated His love for all of us by sending His only son to die in our place, and your hope is anchored in this same God who is still displaying His love to you by faithfully working in you through both the successes and the failures. Age and years married do not determine the end point or completion of God’s work in your lives, Jesus’ return does.

I want to encourage you to see each other for who you really are.

You are unfinished works of art, and your Creator is unafraid of walking into the depths of your souls to provide the power, provision, and purpose you need to continue to grow in beauty both individually and together as one flesh. You are masterpieces that are underway, and as each other’s help meets, you get to encourage each other forward in the process and remind each other that when Jesus returns you will finally and forever be complete.

As husband and wife, you have the privilege of loving each other in and through the process.

This encouragement isn't just for my friend and her husband. This reassuring truth is for you and me in whatever phase of life we are in right now. Since age doesn't determine when God's work is complete in our lives, there will always be room to grow and a need to learn. Looking at age 41 this way has been refreshing. Instead of discouragement over not being further along, I am filled with consolation and confidence. God is for us and He will never forsake the work He started in us! Not only can we find comfort in this truth for ourselves, but we can view others this way. We can celebrate the growth in each others' lives and pray with each other for needed improvement.

I referenced scriptures from the Book of Job above. God challenged Job to trust Him by describing to Job the power and creativity He has to do mighty and magnificent works. If He can refresh barren lands with rain, He can revive parts of us that are unfruitful. If He can make the tender grass spring up, He can cause newness of life to grow in us. If He places wisdom and understanding in the heart of man, He will give us the precise insight and discernment we need exactly when we need it and are receptive to it.

So be encouraged today! You are an unfinished piece of art, a masterpiece underway, and you will be until the day Jesus returns. "For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10

Sincerely,

Amy