I'm Confident of This Very Thing

 The good work that begins in us at our salvation will be a  process  until Jesus returns or we go home to heaven. This Scripture means that after our salvation, we become spiritually transformed (sanctification process) and that God the Father does not abandon us when we become a Christ follower. And it's not by our human efforts!!  God's character...His Power...enables us not our own strength or talents. 

This verse has been going around in my mind, along with the Scripture song that was sung in the mid 1980s in many worship services, all weekend. 

I was reminded of this when I was on a hike Saturday morning. I was confident in leading this hike, even though the 3 of us who signed up, had never hiked this particular trail.  One reason I was confident is because it's a loop trail for 3.5 miles and very easy to follow as the state of Massachusetts had paint blazes pretty close together. 

 My friend E and I could have hiked at a bit faster pace,  but we weren't going to abandon the new member (B) even though she's 30 yrs younger and probably more physically fit than we are! I know the feeling of being abandoned on a trail. I hiked a few times with an old friend who would basically jog or run the trail leaving me to just hike alone. Sometimes I enjoyed it as we always chose trails that are blazed (we don't do bushwhacks unless absolutely necessary like to get to a falls, or to get around blowdown) but the feeling of "what if something happens and she is  way  ahead of me...." would be prevalent. So no way was I going to abandon a brand new member of the hiking group.  We fell into a steady rhythm and thoroughly enjoyed the trail and the fellowship. None of us felt abandoned or that we were going too fast or too slow.   

Sometimes we might feel like we've been "abandoned"  in situations we are dealing with on an emotional level.  Maybe we're going through some kind of trial....challenge...whether it's physical, relational, financial, mental, or emotional.....and we can "feel" abandoned by family, friends, and even God.  Our feelings are real, after all!  

Yet when our confidence is in Christ, we have the blessed assurance that He is walking  right alongside us. 

When we are yoked with Jesus, He guides our way, He bears the brunt of the burden (if we're willing to let Him!) and we can rest in the confidence that "God's got this" 

Give you burdens over to God and He will give you rest...I have confidence in that very promise.