Finish What You Start
by Don Clowers

Many people start out on a journey or a project, but never finish. Sometimes they become discouraged. Sometimes they are distracted. Sometimes they just give up.

God has called each of us to complete a journey. Our prayer should be that we will accomplish the purpose of our journey, that we won't be distracted or discouraged along the way.

Help me to accomplish the purpose of my journey. Genesis 24:12 (NLT)

Is there something you started but have never finished? Something you felt was a part of God's plan for your life, but it just seems too difficult? Perhaps you've tried, but become discouraged.

It might be something in your spiritual life, your prayer life, your personal Bible study, involvement in ministry…It might be a relationship that needs healing, or a career move, or giving up a bad habit. Whatever it is, I want to encourage you to finish what you started. To complete what you know God wants you to do.

Jesus makes it possible

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterward. Now he is seated in the place of highest honor beside God's throne in heaven. Think about all he endured when sinful people did such terrible things to him, so that you don't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. Hebrews 12:1-4 (NLT)

God's word tells us to run with endurance the race that He has set before us. The key? Keeping our eyes on Jesus. Trusting Him. Jesus is our hope. God has made provision for us to finish what He has called us to do.

Satan will do anything he can to distract and discourage you. He will send bad circumstances your way. He will lie to you. He will try to convince you that you cannot succeed.

But Satan is a liar.

He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 (NLT)

Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is your hope. And with Him you can finish what He has called you to do.

David trusted God

In 1 Samuel 30 we read about David facing one of his many challenges. He had a calling on his life and was determined to finish all that God wanted him to do. The incident described here could have caused him to give up. But it didn't.

Three days later, when David and his men arrived home at their town of Ziklag, they found that the Amalekites had made a raid into the Negev and had burned Ziklag to the ground. They had carried off the women and children and everyone else but without killing anyone. When David and his men saw the ruins and realized what had happened to their families, they wept until they could weep no more. David's two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel, were among those captured. David was now in serious trouble because his men were very bitter about losing their wives and children, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the LORD his God.

Then he said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring me the ephod!" So Abiathar brought it. Then David asked the LORD, "Should I chase them? Will I catch them?"

And the LORD told him, "Yes, go after them. You will surely recover everything that was taken from you!" 1 Samuel 30:1-8 (NLT)

The enemy had taken David's wives, as well as the wives and children of his men. Their homes had been burned. David's men turned their bitterness and anger toward him and were threatening to stone him.

Talk about a discouraging time! How easy it would have been for David to give up and leave everything and everyone behind. How easy to say, "Lord, it's just too hard. I can't do it."

Instead, David did three things.

1. He identified the problem. The problem wasn't with his men. They were upset and confused because of their loss. The problem was with the enemy-the one who caused the loss.

If something is hindering you from finishing what you started, I encourage you to identify the problem. If you are blaming something or someone else instead of dealing with the real issue, you will never move on. . .you will never complete the task.

2. David found strength in the Lord. He looked to God for encouragement. He put his hope in Him.

This is what you must do. If someone has let you down, remember that God has never failed you and never will.

Remember that God is always up-He's never down. I've never gone to God and found Him discouraged. I've never gone to God when I was sick and learned that He was sick. He is always whole. He is always there for you. He is faithful.

This I declare of the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I am trusting him. Psalm 91:2 (NLT)

3. David inquired of the Lord. David asked the Lord what to do and the Lord answered.

When you become discouraged...when everything seems to go wrong - ask God what to do. No matter what anyone else says or thinks, I encourage you to do what you know God is calling you to do. He will help you.
He will show you the way.

If you need wisdom-if you want to know what God wants you to do-ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:5-6 (NLT)

David trusted God and His Word. You too must get into agreement with God's Word. Trust Him for the answer.

You can finish!

God has a plan for your life. A special plan. And as you put your hope and faith in Him, He will help you accomplish all that He has called you to do.

All of it. Not some. Not the easy things. All of it.