Photo by Hayley Catherine on Unsplash 

PROGRESS: movement toward a goal; growth or development; continuous improvement.

Recently we hired a friend to do some outside work on our house. He has rebuilt and painted our porch railing and has installed new light fixtures. Each day he has worked, I have been excited to return home to see the progress he has made. The exterior of our home is in the process of changing and it looks lovely! Currently, we are waiting for a new front door that is on backorder for several weeks. It feels like the work has stopped, but actually we are just waiting on the next step.

As I was pondering this, my thoughts wandered to how God must feel when He looks at me. My life is God’s home because resides in me. My exterior has changed over the years as I’ve aged and progressed through life, but more importantly, my interior has changed as well.  

I have seen recent growth in my life as I have assumed a new managerial role at work. I have grown in leadership, boldness, grace, and strength of character. I am way out of my comfort zone on many days and am so grateful for His gentle leading through His still small voice. Some days it feels like I have not made much progress, but then all of a sudden it feels like there has been a monumental leap. Each step towards Jesus, big or small, is still progress in the right direction. 

Philippians 1:6 (The Voice):

“I am confident that the Creator, who has begun such a great work among you, will not stop in mid-design but will keep perfecting you until the day Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, returns to redeem the world.”

Just as our house is in a waiting mode, sometimes our lives are in a period of waiting on the Lord for the next step in our progress of character growth. This verse promises that He will not stop in mid-design, but will keep perfecting us! What glorious reassurance that God has not given up on me.

I pray that you receive that same reassurance in your journey with Jesus today!

This post was prompted by Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with little editing. (Some weeks I have more trouble with that part than others.) Check out the other writers on this topic!