"And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

Romans 8:30 (NIV)

You're not the finished product yet. You look at your life and see too many rough edges. You notice the same sins showing up again and again. You feel the gap between who you are and who you want to be. And in your discouragement, you wonder if you're making any progress at all.

But here's what you need to understand: sanctification takes time. God justified you in an instant when you trusted Christ. Your legal status before Him changed immediately from guilty to righteous. But your actual character transformation? That's a lifelong process. You're not supposed to be perfect yet. You're supposed to be in process.

Look at what Paul says in Philippians 1:6: "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." Notice the certainty in that promise. Not "might complete" or "hopes to finish." Will carry it on to completion. The Greek word for "complete" is epiteleo, which means to bring to an end, to accomplish fully. God doesn't start projects and abandon them halfway through. He finishes what He starts.

Imagine visiting Michelangelo's workshop while he carved the statue of David. You wouldn't see the masterpiece in its finished glory. You'd see rough marble, chisel marks, dust everywhere. If you judged the work by its current state, you'd miss the vision. But Michelangelo saw the finished sculpture even when it was still trapped in stone. He kept working because he knew what he was creating.

That's how God sees you right now. He sees both what you are and what you will be. He sees the sin you're still struggling with and the holiness you'll one day display. He sees your current weakness and your future strength. And He keeps working because He knows exactly what He's designed you to become. Every circumstance, every trial, every blessing is another strike of the chisel.

Godseekers, stop measuring your progress by yesterday's failures. God hasn't given up on you just because growth feels slow. The fact that you're aware of your sin is actually evidence of His work in you. Dead people don't feel conviction. Growing people do. You're not who you were a year ago, and you won't be who you are today a year from now. Trust the process. The Sculptor isn't finished yet.

Prayer

Dear Lord, thank You that I'm not who I used to be. Thank You for the work You've already done in my life, even when I can't see it clearly. Forgive me for being so hard on myself when progress feels slow. Help me remember that You're patient with me, shaping me day by day. Give me eyes to see the ways I've grown, not just the areas where I still struggle. Remind me that You're faithful to complete what You started. I trust that You're not finished with me yet. Keep working, Lord. Keep shaping me into the image of Your Son. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Personal Reflection

• What's one way I've grown spiritually in the past year that I haven't acknowledged or celebrated?
• Am I being patient with my own process of transformation, or am I expecting instant perfection?

Step of Faith

Today, I will write down three specific ways God has changed me since I first trusted Christ. I will thank Him for His faithful work and ask Him to continue shaping me with patience and grace.