Life Without Mother

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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 1:3-6

Dear Friend,

This is how I want to be remembered. With joy over my “partnership in the Gospel.” With confidence that “He […] will carry [the good work in me] on to completion.” There is so much in this small passage of His word. And I’d like to share my understanding of it with you.

First, that I need to remember my fellow brothers and sisters in my prayers. And that whenever I may be struggling with prayers of thanksgiving, there is always thanks to be given for the spiritual family of which I am a part — whether personally known or not. But I must remember them regardless. Even on my worst days, I could list at least ten people whose prayers I know are being lifted on my behalf. Am I on my brothers’ and sisters’ list? Do they know they can count on me for prayer? For the lifting of their name to the One who holds every star in His hand?

And praying for them brings Paul joy! How often do I feel discouraged? Alone? Too often. But remembering others in my conversations with Him — it is His reminder that I’m not alone. This fight to truly live and to proclaim His praise spans across the entire world!

The other reminder that is imbedded into this prayer of thanksgiving is a subtle shift in subject. It is the start of that dependent clause: “that He” (emphasis added). My LORD is the One who has “began a good work” in me. AND, He is the One who “will carry it on to completion.” You started the good work, and You’ll finish it.

The appositive phrase “who began a good work in you” describes “He.” Why is this grammar important? It is not cradled by commas on either side, identifying the definitive purpose of the phrase. The use of past tense in “started” further solidifies the irrevocable or unchangeable nature of who “He” is. In other words, the fact that the work was already started prior to this prayer is a part of the defining nature of the subject, “He.” He is active. He is good. He has started things. He is starting things. The “you” is the passive object here. “He” started the work. Not “you.” Ergo, the LORD started the work in me (and you, friend)! And He will finish what He starts. Paul’s confidence is in His “will.” That He “will carry it on to completion” (emphasis added). 

Hinging on the promise-keeping, faithful Prince of Peace (or Prince of “Wholeness”) that He is, I, too, can be confident that He will complete the good work that He’s started in me — that is, if He has begun a good work in me.

The question from the underlying assumption of this encouragement: Has He begun a good work in me?

Yes! It started on that fall August night when I was seven. Sitting in Mama’s bed, a hand-penciled drawing of a chasm and a little stick-figure girl on a bike trying to get across and the only way was over a roughly-drawn cross. The night when my heart finally knew what true Good is. 

I push Him out, run away from the Good He’s doing, numb myself to the blindfold I try to tie across my own eyes.

But His light shines through. Not because of me. But because of His glory. His Glory requires that all good reflects Good. It requires that the work He starts comes to Completion. It’s not just a pretty picture to be drawn and then painted. It is a state of Being that will Be. 

The great grace, my friend, is in His willingness to start a good work! The good work is started in a vessel. He starts these good works in broken vessels, with the foreknowledge and a full understanding of their state of brokenness. He starts it anyways knowing that whatever He starts, He — by definition of who He is — must complete. 

Thank the Lord for His grace! Thank Him for His faithfulness! Thank Him for His goodness!

And I thank You, Lord, that You looked at this broken vessel and chose to say, “Here, I begin a Good work.”

Has He begun that work in you, my friend? Do you know that He will finish it? Know and be encouraged!

A broken vessel in the hands of the Perfect Potter,
Hannah