But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 Peter 5:10
What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.
T. S. Eliot
When will this ever end? That was my question of the month for June, which was crammed with two writing conferences, book launch team obligations, a short-term job, some new writing and publishing opportunities, and prepping for a twice a year sale at work. All of these were positive opportunities, but I didn’t think they would all coincide at the same time. By June 30th I was just trying to finish the month and all my duties to the best of my abilities. However, like my tag line says, “The end of my yarn is only the beginning.”
Last week I picked up a knitting project that I pushed aside a while back. It’s not a hard pattern. I just have to repeat the same two rows until I am almost out of yarn and then do an edge and bind off. Seems simple, doesn’t it? The problem is that this particular ball of yarn seems to be endless. I knit and knit and check the ball. I don’t feel like I have made even a small dent. Where does it end?
The End Is the Beginning
My knitting projects are never ending, but so is my To Be Read Pile because I keep adding to the pile. For every one I finish, I add three more. It keeps life interesting. I pick out books that seem fitting or appealing for the moment. I think my reading list for June and July are significant:
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- This Is Where It Ends by Cindy Sproles
- Facing the Enemy by DiAnn Mills
- The Third Path: Finding Intimacy with God on the Path of Questioning by Eva Marie Everson
- Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
Where does it end? This is where it ends as I face the enemy on the path of questioning and self-editing. (See what I did there?) Life is a continuing path because, just like finishing a book or a knitting project, it always leads to another chapter in our lives. T. S. Eliot was right: the end is only the beginning. If this is true, then what should we do?
Today Is the Day
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34
June has ended and July has begun with a new month of deadlines, but it is also a month of possibilities. This morning my mind whirled as I worked on my next 12-week year schedule and my list of projects. As I sat with my journal, it came to me that I don’t need to borrow the trouble of tomorrow and ruin today. Instead I asked God what He had for me to do today. That is what I needed to focus on.
While life is full of endings and beginnings, God is the God of today. “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 188:24). Each day is a fresh start with daily manna to strengthen us, grace that is always sufficient, and mercies that are new every morning. If we dwell with God in the present, then we don’t have to worry about tomorrow. He already has tomorrow covered. While everything around us is always in flux, God is steadfast. He has a plan for the future and will see it to completion. We just have to trust Him to handle the future and focus on our assignment for today.
Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. Charles Spurgeon Share on XWhere Does It End?
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
It ends at God’s feet. Whether it is the day-to-day anxieties of life or the end of our lives on earth, it all ends at God’s feet. It’s the place where we lay our burdens down and pick up peace. I can’t think of a better exchange rate.
What has God got for you to do today? Do that and let Him worry about tomorrow… not that He’s worried. God’s got this and tomorrow because where does God end?
He doesn’t.
So take it One Day at a Time:
Perhaps this is why He gives us “daily bread” and not weekly or monthly bread my friend? He knows that to remain in concert with His will, we must remain in concert with Him. We can do that by asking Him for enough to complete all He wants us to do this day. God’s blessings sweet friend.