A pile of half-folded laundry sat on the couch, begging to be finished (or at least moved) so that someone could sit in its spot.
The cookies sat on the cooling rack, but the mess of dishes from the baking session cluttered the kitchen.
The vacuum sat idly in the living room waiting for me to pick up the last few things so that it could be run across the carpet.
A random assortment of school papers, nail polish, coloring stuff, and supper crumbs littered the kitchen table.
It was that kind of day—a million things started, but very few finished.
I didn’t leave everything partially done. Most of my unfinished tasks were checked off by the end of the night, but a few were moved to the next day’s list. The thing about having unfinished work is that we always have intentions to complete it, and (if it’s important enough) we make specific plans to get it done.
As I walked by the half-folded laundry for the umpteenth time that day, I couldn’t help but think about how we are all unfinished.
We are sinners in progress, working toward righteousness, forever grateful for God’s mercy.
“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
We are unfinished servants of the Lord.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
There are days when you might feel more sinner than servant, when you wonder whether it’s even possible for God to use you, when you question how on earth He can work good from the mess you’re in—I have been in each of these places.
But, friend, you and I can be “. . . 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).
You see, just like we don’t simply forget about our incomplete tasks (though, there are many days I’d like to just forget about the laundry), God won’t forget about us.
He started you, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13).
He is with you, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast“ (Psalm 139:7-10).
And He has a plan for you, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Do you understand? You are on God’s list, and He is working on you even at this moment. Unfinished is exactly where God intends us to be.
This Christian faith is a constant process of sanctification. God sees us and all our unfinished parts, but we’re not just sitting there—stalled, idle, and waiting. God is working in every moment to draw us closer to Him, to convict us of our sin and call us to repentance, and to love us in all our unfinished mess.
Yes, we are all unfinished. But we won’t be left that way forever. There is a day ahead when Christ will complete His work in us and we will stand in the glory of our Lord, praising Him for the work He has done. And until the day he calls us home, we can sing these words from one of my favorite Mandisa songs . . .
He started something good
And I’m gonna believe it
He started something good
And He’s gonna complete it
So I’ll celebrate the truth
His work in me ain’t through
I’m just unfinished
Father,
Thank you for not giving up on me, for loving me enough not to leave me unfinished. Lord, please help me see your plans for me and to do my part in finishing the work you’ve started. Give me the wisdom to see your will. Give me the courage to follow your lead. Give me the strength to trust even when I can’t see your purpose. And, Lord, let all the glory be given to you.
In Your will, through Your power, and for Your glory,
Amen
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