Devotional | God will finish what He has started

Philippians Chapter 1 verse 6 (NIV)..being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It feels like the word completion has more meaning attached to it right now. In a few days, on Tuesday the 2/12/2025, my husband and I celebrate 25 years marriage. A few weeks later, I will celebrate my final assessment to complete the Bachelor of Counselling that I have been studying for 6 years. Completing this degree has been long and hard so completing it is all the sweeter.

Over the past 6 years, my life has taken so many turns that it looked doubtful I would complete my Bachelor. In 2019, my world as I knew it, was affected by a trauma that totally broke me.  Later, my health took several beatings at different times when I developed both acute, a chronic health condition as well  as a pancreatic cancer scare. Praise God, no cancer was found. There have been many other challenges along the way but some created a brokeness within me that only God could mend. None of this brokeness is a surprise to God.

Somewhere along the way I learnt about Kintsugi- an ancient Japanese art form of repairing broken crockery with gold or silver lacquer to enhance the beauty of the broken pieces. I became so interested that I bought a kintsugi kit as well as attended a kintsugi workshop and what I found astounded me.

Kintsugi of course needs a broken container or dish. The dish needs to be cleaned and sometimes a little bit of sanding is needed on the rough edges. A close examination needs to take place and consideration given to the placement of pieces. Two types of resin are needed in equal portions which need to be mixed together before applying to one side of the broken object. Once the resin has been applied, the artist lines up the 2 pieces and holds them in position while the resin adheres to both surfaces. The resin quickly becomes tacky and while it remains tacky, the gold powder is delicately dusted onto the resin creating a beautiful gold seam.

I imagine that God is like a Kintsugi master who looks at all those broken pieces and ponders the best way to repair and enhance the brokeness in out lives. As He holds all the pieces together, somehow that too is part of His plan. The delicate dusting of gold powder gives the finishing touch of beauty.

Now reading all about the process, it may look like a piece of cake to engage in the art of Kintsugi. As a novice, I did not find it as easy as it looks. I made a lot of mess and made mistakes which aided my learning of the art. It was very satisfying to complete each piece even though the finished product was very messy. Isn’t that like our lives?

I am in awe that God, who began a good work in us, will carry it on to completion. Even if we mess up along the way, He will carry on that work in us, until it is completed.

As we come to end of 2025, as you ponder this verse and Job 23 verse 10 (NIV) where have you seen God move into your brokeness and mistakes? Have you seen how God has factored in your mistakes and messes?  Paul, the writer of Philippians, is confident that He who began a good work will carry it on to completion. Job 23 verse 10 tells us that He knows the way I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

As you step into 2026, know that God has started this work within you and He will complete it.