(In 2017, I wrote this series for the 40 days prior to Easter to prepare our hearts and minds for the significance of Jesus’ resurrection.  I’m reposting the series now for the 40 days after Easter to encourage us to follow through, living in the risen Savior and King.)

My 50 year old knees and back were aching from kneeling on the thin carpet and squatting over the pieces of the new futon.  My son, Caleb, and I had been wrestling with it for a while.  It was to be the newest addition to our kids’ game room.  But he was  more excited that we were getting the room ready for future guests.  As much as I was hurting, I couldn’t quit and break my promise to help him.

We were almost finished when I noticed that we were one bolt short.  And, of course, all of the hardware stores closed 30 minutes.  Ordinarily, I might have said we could just finish it tomorrow, but it was also the eve of a federal holiday.  Most stores would be closed tomorrow.

“See if you can find a similar bolt in my toolbox, Caleb.  I’ll be back in about an hour.”

I felt bad leaving him, even though he seemed to understand completely and kept on going like it was no big deal.  But it was a big deal to me.  I don’t like promising things and not being able to follow through to the end, particularly when it involves people that I care about.  It feels like I’m quitting, or more specifically that I’m a quitter.  A bad father.  A bad example.  A bad whatever.  You fill in the blank.

When I got back from the store, Caleb had finished the futon perfectly and was doing something else.  He was happy with being that much closer to a completed fun room and was thankful for my help, especially with some of the harder work.

Stress relieved.

Still, it got me thinking about how important it is to most of us that others keep their word and follow through.  How much we depend on others to do some hard things that we can’t do ourselves.

There have been many hard times when I wondered if God had quit on me.  There have been bad times when I was faithless or down right disobedient when I thought He should have quit on me.  But He never did, and He never will.

God has a good plan for every person who has turned to His Son, Jesus, to forgive them and rule their lives until they are finally perfected with Him in paradise.  Somewhat like that futon, He is putting His people together so He and they can enjoy time with each other.  And He will not quit on His people because He will not quit on His good plan for our joy in His glory.

Listen to one of God’s statements of this promise.

“Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.  The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8)

What God started for Himself and His people, He will finish.  The work here is just prep for what’s to come:  a celebration with the King for eternity.  Imagine coming to God’s house and the many great preparations to be made.

We ain’t seen NOTHIN’ yet.

If you’d like to know more about who publishes the articles, videos, and other materials on tools4trenches, you can click on the picture of me and my wife.