At the moment I am studying a few subjects at Alphacrucis College. I am excited about the idea of completing a Masters degree, however the process has been the most frustrating, all-consuming and isolating experience I have had, making me wonder whether it’s worth it. With an essay due and time restraints I was not sure if I could complete it. At one point I lost five days of research when my computer crashed due to an “internal server error” leaving me annoyed and at breaking point. The essay consumed more time and energy than I would have liked to give to it and there were other things I would have preferred to focus on. I often found myself wishing that I could just be finished, so I could move on to do other things I needed and wanted to do.
Most of us like the end result but not the process. So often we don’t want to embrace the process, we just want to arrive at the destination. But what I have discovered is that God is a God of the process. When He created the earth and all that is in it, He did it over seven days, and the reality is He built process into our lives when He created us.
James 1:2-4 tells us that we are to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The process brings us to a place of completion.
I have encountered many people, myself included, that would like to fast forward to the end of the process. But in doing so we would miss out on so much. Once I had finished the major essay the sense of completion and satisfaction was incredible. It empowered me, it gave purpose to my pain and it gave me the energy and passion to continue to tackle the mountain of essays in front of me.
However if I had quit or had tried to skip the steps to get to the end of the process it would have led to failure, greater frustration, lack of wisdom and undeveloped faith and knowledge. When we try to skip steps it can result in premature and undeveloped faith. Sometimes the process isn’t easy, but the reality is that it is necessary.
So how do we survive the process? Ephesians 3:20 says “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”. We can overlook His power in the process of straining towards what is ahead, where the exceedingly, abundantly above is our focus. It is His power at work in us that gets us through the process. We have a promise. Remember that what “He starts, He finishes” (Phil 1:6). So let’s embrace the process.
If you have failed, get back up. If you’re succeeding, keep going. If you’re stuck, access His power! Whether you fail or succeed – He loves you! Despite the outcome or results; He doesn’t judge you but compels you to keep moving forward. Don’t quit.
What He is incubating in your life right now is necessary for the future! ENDURE!