I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.
Philippians 1:3-6
There is a term “transplant stress” is a familiar term to arborists. The tree experts know that when a transplant occurs, there is a need for both proper conditions and proper time before a change is seen in the tree. It is most likely that when the tree is removed from the soil, it will lose close to 95% of its root structure. Moving a tree causes a lot of disruption that is unseen. This change requires a substantial amount of recovery time when little or now growth above the soil can be observed. In some instances, at may take two to three years before exponential visible development. What is not always seen but can be trusted is that much of the work before growth happens below ground.
God transplants a man’s life from a life of sin to life in Christ. This should be an indication that the good unseen work of development has begun and must run its course. From the first day until now, as Paul so eloquently says, we should have confidence in God’s good work.
I am not known for being patient, but I have learned to be confident in God’s timing and His process. Daily I need to remind myself that in the economy of God, there is always movement even if it is unseen. He doesn’t waste a day or an opportunity to develop me. I often don’t like how that happens or desire that He do something more visible or spectacular. I do know this: all men who say yes to following Jesus Christ can be confident that someday there will be a completion. Some days are spent repairing what we cannot see, and others will present the dynamic growth in what is perceived.
DO THIS TODAY: Think confidently in the seen and unseen work of God in your life.