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“Being 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).
The trees outside my window were lightly covered with the recent winter snow. We just survived a level 3 snowstorm here in Ohio, but after the recent temperature fluctuation, things were slowly melting. A gentle blend of icicles and pool puddles adorned the backyard of my condo. But one thing stood out: the quiet of the day after a busy holiday season.
This Christmas season was busy like all the rest. But in between the hustle and bustle, I found myself looking for sacred pauses. A moment to remember my Papa, who passed away last February. A moment to reminisce on what Christmas was like as a child. A moment to look at the scrapbooks of the memory bank in my mind and replay what it was like to wait eagerly for Santa Claus to arrive. A moment to remember that God finishes what He starts, even in the quiet and still small days. What are you choosing to remember? What do you need to make space to remember?
Because I have anxiety, I’ve wrestled with silence for nearly a decade. I have a very difficult time obeying the Sabbath, sitting still, and waiting for God to speak. But I’ve made it my mission this past year to prioritize silence, even if it’s 5 or 10 minutes. Because I know that even in the pauses and sacred spaces, God is moving. And that’s usually when and where He wants to speak to me.
In this verse from Philippians 1:6, we learn that God finishes what He starts. While most people apply this to their life’s calling, I think we can also apply it to trusting God with unfinished stories. Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birth. But that’s not the end of the story. Easter celebrates Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, but that’s not the end of the story. Between Christmas and New Year’s Eve, there’s a sacred pause before a new decade, but friends, that’s not the end of the story. And He’s not done writing your story.
If this resonates with you today, try asking yourself these questions:
-What feels incomplete in my life right now?
-How can I create time and space to pause and listen to the Lord?
-Is God trying to speak to me? Am I making time to hear?
-When I talk to God, is it a two-way street?
-Can I trust God with whatever I’m carrying?