FROM FAILURE TO FAITH: What "It Is Finished" Means for Struggling Believers

"Lord, I'm a failure. I'm done."

Exactly 48 hours after I posted encouragement to broken believers about pressing on with their calling, I was ready to quit.

This kind of thing happens all the time.

"I don't know what to do! This situation’s a mess!" I collapse during lunch with a friend, dramatically sweeping the silverware to the floor with a clatter.

"I think you should trust God and keep going?" my friend says.

"You're right! You're so wise!" It seems everyone's smarter than me.

"Well, I got that from reading your last devotion."

"Oh."

Most days, I feel like a hypocrite, but I'm just a broken believer.

Broken believers fall down, but with God's help, we get back up again.

On our best days, we look holy.

On our worst days, we're grateful that we're wholly His.

Because there's not a one of us who has it all together all the time.

Our knees still shake when we march into battle. That's why we can't let go of His hand.

We need to constantly preach the Gospel to ourselves and each other:

Because of Jesus, nothing can separate you from God's love, not even you.

Salvation is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Sanctification is an ongoing process that goes on for the rest of your life. 

"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 1:6)

After my quitter’s prayer, I remembered what Jesus shouted from the cross.

"IT IS FINISHED!"

At the time, His mission appeared to have failed. But resurrection proof was only a few long days away.

When I dragged myself to the keyboard, an unexpected message was waiting.

"From one broken believer to another," it began.

"Thank you for following the calling that God has given you. You helped me with something I struggle with - salvation vs sanctification."

Oh.

So, let's roll up our sleeves and trust God to keep working in and through us.

We're not done, but it is finished.

We’re in very good hands.

From one broken believer to another,

Thank you for following Jesus. What you do for Him matters more than you know.

Trust God. Keep going until you see His face.

You’re called, chosen, perfectly loved, and forever wholly His.

Love, 

Nikki

Just a Broken Believer