Faithful to Complete the Work He Started

Learning to Enjoy Your Journey

“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)

Life is so uncertain. We envision living a certain kind of life. But often, things do not always pan out exactly as we intended. As children, we learn to go to school, pick a career, get a good education, get married, have children, and shoot for the stars.

You aim high and fall somewhere in between, and that's considered a life of success. The one key ingredient in this formula is that we should probably allow room for God's plan for us. Ultimately, our goals should probably line up with God's will for our lives. And, as we are now experiencing with COVID-19, God is yet in control.

Today I was thinking about my life this time last year. I had just crowned Mrs. Illinois International 2020. I worked with a local radio station to host a radio show under the brand "Simply Marnie." I had signed a contract with a voice-over talent agency in Chicago. And, most importantly, I had made an immense faith move by resigning from a position I held for the past ten years as head of communications and media relations at a hospital to launch a boutique PR agency. In my mind, I had everything all planned out, had signed a few high-level clients that were familiar with my work, and was ready to move into my new beginnings. So I thought.

By January 2020, all my plans changed. I was separating from my husband of 28 years. I had moved to another location. COVID-19 ransacked the world like a recurring nightmare. Suddenly, I am in unfamiliar territory battling depression and anxiety. But during this time, all I could hear the Lord say is "Do you trust me?"

Yes Lord. I Trust You.

There are times when the Lord will ask us to do something that makes absolutely no sense to the human perspective. However, in the Heavenly realm, the Lord is repositioning us for something else. The hard part is trusting the Lord's plan instead of what we think we want for ourselves. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11).

That is why life is an actual walk of faith. I say this because no one knows what tomorrow holds. Whatever our beliefs, we live with the expectancy of what we hope for, even though we can't see it in the natural. (Hebrews 11:1). So we wake up every morning believing that we have the time to accomplish that which we seek one second at a time. That's all we have. Pretty powerful when you think about how God is in control.

On this incredible journey of faith, I am learning to release my desires to the Lord and trust that His plans are ultimately better suited for me, even over what I think I may want. I am also realigning my thought process to what the Word of God says about who I am.

Here's why. God is the Creator. He is our Father. Therefore, He knows our beginning and our end. The Lord is so invested in us that He will perfect that which concerns us and will not forsake the work of His hands (Psalm 138:8). And like an earthly father cares for his children, the Lord also loves us so much that He cares about our eternal destiny (John 3:16). Notwithstanding, God even cares about the life we live on earth to live on purpose.

He Gives Us Beauty For Our Ashes

As painful and as fragmented our lives may be in the moment, it is just like God to tear down what is not working to rebuild us and remake us to serve Him better. He takes the broken parts of our lives and puts every piece back together like a perfect puzzle. He doesn't waste a thing. And, you can rest assured that He includes every misstep, every painful experience, and every good thing in the newly constructed masterpiece (us). As I am currently walking this journey, I can tell you that the process is painful, scary, and frustrating. But it is what is needed to become the absolute best version of myself. It is also an experience worth sharing to help others who may be entering a trial, in a test, or about to exit one. Everything always works together for our good. (Romans 8:28).

Allowing God to Take the Wheel

Life is like riding in the passenger seat of a car surrendering to the person operating the vehicle. Without question, we trust we will arrive at our destination in one piece and at the right time. While we are traveling, we may hit a little traffic, hit a few speed bumps, drive through a few rough neighborhoods, witness a few beautifully decorated yards, and hit a few clear blocks with no incidences.

On our journey, we have no control over what we see. All we need to do is enjoy the ride while experiencing the incredible scenery — both the good and the bad. Regardless of our dreams or goals, everyone takes the scenic route at times. There is no way around it, and there are no short cuts.

If you put things in perspective, what you derive is that life is the car. We are passengers. God is our driver. We have to trust that He will perfect the work He started in us in His time and season. The Lord, our Creator, controls time, so we should relax. We will arrive at our destination when we are prepared. All I can say is, life is worth living with Jesus. Trust God to perfect you for your respective calling and faithful to finish what he started in you. So enjoy your journey, my friends.

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About Marnie Simply Marnie

Marnie Robinson is a communications strategist, journalist, and leader with more than 25 years of combined experience in the public and nonprofit industries. Specializing in healthcare public relations and marketing, she is the president and CEO of MARS Communications, Inc. and SimplyMarnie.com. Marnie enjoys competing in fitness competitions and living a healthy lifestyle. In addition, she is Mrs. Illinois International 2019.