The Lord will perfect
“The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”Psalm 138:8
Reflection
Many people live with the feeling of being an unfinished work. They look at themselves and see areas in which they still stumble, habits that do not change, wounds that do not heal, dreams that have not come true. And they wonder whether they will ever get there. David, in Psalm 138, offers a word of comfort for this feeling: "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands." Two statements and a request, and all point to God's faithfulness in completing what He began.
Notice the first statement: the Lord "will perfect that which concerneth me". It is not "what concerns me myself", but what concerns God about me. And the verb is one of completion. The idea is that God is not a builder who abandons the work halfway, leaving the skeleton exposed. He takes His project seriously. This comforts those who feel stuck: what God began in your life, He will finish. The process may be slow and incomprehensible, but the Builder is faithful. The New Testament echoes this same certainty in many texts.
The second statement gives the basis: "thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever". God's commitment to our completion is not the fruit of a passing mood; it is born of loyal and permanent love. He does not give up on us when we fail, does not withdraw the promise after a mistake, does not tire of our slowness. And the psalm ends with a prayer: "forsake not the works of thine own hands". David recognizes himself as the work of God's hands. What a comfort to remember that we are His work, and not a project of ourselves: an artist does not abandon a piece he works on with love.
Today, pray this verse personally. Hand over to God the areas in which you feel unfinished and say: "Lord, complete what You began". Be patient with yourself, as He is. Take care not to compare yourself with works that seem finished around you, since each one is at a different point in the process. And remember to cooperate: obey what He has already shown, even if small. The God who began a good work in you will carry it to completion. You are not abandoned halfway.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You will complete what You began in me. Your mercy endures forever, and You do not forsake the works of Your hands. Give me patience with myself and obedience to what You have already shown me. Finish in me the good work You started, for Your glory. Amen.
Put it into practice
Identify one area in which you feel "unfinished" and hand it to God, praying: "Lord, complete what You began". Then take one small step of obedience in that area today, without demanding perfection of yourself.
To reflect on
In what area have you been feeling like an unfinished work, and what changes when you remember that the Lord promises to complete what He began?
Bible text: King James Version (public domain).