Finish What You Start by Amy Duncan

I confess to being more of a starter than a finisher. Though I do finish most projects, I am afraid that I tend to generate more “great ideas” than “jobs-well-done.” Knowing myself well, I even chose “completion” to be my watchword for 2019, and in the fall I read (and completed) the book, Finish, by Jon Acuff.

And yet, I was confronted once more by my tendencies when I recently went in search of fabric in our basement. The call to arms had been issued, and I was determined to do my part by sewing masks for Covid-19 protection. Nestled on the basement shelves was a graveyard of unfinished craft and sewing projects. There was a bag full of cut fabric with the pattern pieces still attached that was to have been doll clothes somewhere around 1998. There was a roll of Christmas plaid with batting that had been purchased to become placemats. I found a collection of embroidery hoops with half-finished cross stitch projects and a drawer full of yarn and crochet hooks tucked in with a book called, I Taught Myself to Crochet. My intentions were always good.

In the bigger picture, I sometimes worry that I may not be starting or completing the “right” things that God has planned for me to do. It’s easy to chase ideas and to stew over goals I haven’t yet accomplished. Social media sets us up for the comparison game. None of this is productive, nor is it how God wants us to live. We are called to abide in God, to lean into Christ. In John 15:5, Jesus said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” Andy Stanley expands on that verse by saying, “A divine vision is not dependent upon us making something happen. It is dependent upon God making something happen.” When we abide in God, implicitly trusting his leadership and direction, we not only start the right things, we are able to finish them as well. 

This is because Jesus is completion. He closes the circle and finishes our story. “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” (John 17:4) God speaks to us through Scripture to help us understand that he has wonderful plans for us and that if we trust him, he will partner with us to bring them to completion—plans for our lives and plans for our faith. “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) “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”(Philippians 1:6) Finished. I like the sound of that.