God's work is done

At one time or another we may have faced a big project and doubted that we would ever see it completed. Perhaps we even felt it was difficult to begin.

Discouragement, fear, feelings of inadequacy, can be overcome when we sincerely turn to God in prayer, reaffirming our primary relationship to our divine source, the only creator. The realization that God supplies man with every right and needed idea can free us from false responsibility and anxiety at the outset of any endeavor.

Christ Jesus healed sickness and sin and accomplished wonderful works, which from a limited human viewpoint appeared impossible. The basis of these works was his unequaled understanding of God's supremacy and of His perfect government of man. We too can experience God's healing power and His wise, loving direction, because Jesus assured his disciples that the works he did could be done by all those who followed him. n1

n1 See John 14:12

Several years ago I was able to gain freedom from a feeling of burden about a project that demanded completion. Having finished all course work for a doctorate, I had to write the dissertation in order to qualify for the degree. After several false starts I was ready to give up the entire program. In fact, for the next few years I did little about pursuing the work. However, at one point I needed to return to school to take courses to meet further professional requirements, and then I met a professor who suggested I finish the dissertation under his guidance.

This time I knew with greater conviction that God, divine Mind, was the source of all intelligence and that, as Jesus had proved many times, God is the source of all wisdom. I knew that even though there were many steps to complete, God's work was already done and that as His image and likeness, I reflected His intelligence. Whenever I became discouraged or unable to see clearly what to do next, I turned to Mind for guidance with the understanding that Mind was already -- and eternally -- caring for my needs. This statement by Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, proved very helpful: ''Spirit, God, gathers unformed thoughts into their proper channels, and unfolds these thoughts , even as He opens the petals of a holy purpose in order that the purpose may appear.'' n2

n2Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 506

In a relatively short time the outline for the dissertation was completed and approved by a university committee without serious changes, and in less than two years the dissertation was finished. This experience continues to illustrate to me that when one turns to God for guidance and understandingly affirms that His work is already done, one can expect to progress in an orderly and productive way.

Jesus prayed to do his Father's will. Even during the crucifixion he yielded personal human will to the divine will in order to fulfill God's purpose. When we subordinate human desires, we too will find that ''unformed thoughts'' are gathered ''into their proper channels,'' and we will see a purposefulness beyond our previously stereotyped goals. As we turn away from discouragement, doubt, fear, and declare that God's work is done, we can expect to be relieved of a burdensome sense of our work or of life itself and to be divinely inspired.

As the Psalmist sang, ''I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.'' n3

n3 Psalms 139:14

DAILY BIBLE VERSE It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure Philippians 2:13m