“I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

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God has provided no asset for living greater than the endowments of our bodies and minds. The challenge is to make the most of them, to actually be true to ourselves, which is often diffcult or impossible.

At times, we want to be someone else, to imitate others, and we lose sight of our own capabilities. Or, we may desire to do as our our neighbors do, though we lack the earthly means to live according to their standards. The apparent success of others can cause us to concentrate on what we have not achieved or accomplished. All of this can cause us to lose our sense of gratitude for what God has made in us and given us. 

I know that I struggle with these things. So, my prayer is that God would help me to understand myself, to see who I am and what I can do and be thankful. I pray that God would give me the courage and endurance to develop my talents and powers and to be wholly myself, that I may be of some benefit to others.

In praying these things I am also aware that most of us do not become the people we hoped we would be. Our choices may take us in directions quite contrary to those that we believe would have resulted in the greater fulfillment of our lives. Therefore, even as I pray for God’s help in being true to myself, my most fervent prayer is that my life may be held in the certainty of His purposes.

For in the final analysis, our lives are not our own. We may look with dismay or satisfaction at our stewardship of life but this is not what is defining of our success or the lack of it. We belong to Him. In baptism He began His gracious work in us and our lives will find their completion in Him.

“May the peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

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