And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

One of the reasons followers of Jesus lose hope is that we forget that God is at work in and around us.  Specifically God is doing a GOOD work.  What happens to us may not seem good, feel good, or appear good, but because God IS good and because God IS sovereign, what is happening to us IS good.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Another reason we lose hope is that we fail to recognize WHERE God is at work.  He has begun a good work IN you, not to you, around you, for you, or about you… IN you.  God is much more interested in our holiness than our happiness, more interested in our character than our comfort.  God is in the process of conforming is to the image of Jesus.

For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. – Romans 8:29

Since God is working IN us, what then becomes our role?

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. – John 15:4

Each day, spend time in God’s Word allowing Him to use that word to interpret our circumstances (not vice-versa) and to transform us into who He wants us to be.  

Yes.  It really is THAT SIMPLE.  Dig into God’s Word, observe our lives, learn how to apply God’s Word to the circumstances of our day, and over time God transforms us into the image of Christ. No shortcuts.  No gimmicks.  God’s Word applied to everyday life.  We do our part, God does His part.  We bear fruit and God receives glory.  I encourage you to start today.  Let the good work begin.

By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples. – John 15:8