“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering
over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3)
Someone once wrote that “since God freely created the universe by his Word, out of nothing, we can expect God to continue to act in that way.” Don’t we depend and rely on God to continue creating wondrous things out of nothing? Who are we without God? No one. What are we without God? Nothing. What good can we accomplish without God? None. What victory can we gain without God? None. Oh, how we need him to create something in and through us!
When my heart feels faint, my strength thoroughly zapped, my spirit dry, and my mind completely worn, I can do nothing but wait for the Lord to renew my emptied self. On my own, I am helpless to restore this brokenness in me; I can only trust him to create again a pure heart and a faithful spirit that longs only for him. In the same way that he didn’t create the world to be empty but rather to be inhabited by us (Isaiah 45:18), he didn’t create our souls to be empty, but rather to have his Spirit reside in us (1 Corinthians 6:19).
It isn’t that God simply was a creator; he is still our most perfect and beautiful creator. An artist continues to mold, shape, and add special touches to a piece of artwork until it is complete and he or she is satisfied. In the same way, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). This is something we can hold on to: no matter how defeated or beaten we may feel, we know that this is not the end. God’s creative work in us has not been completed yet. We know that the end result will be nothing less of glorious, for we are being transformed into his likeness day by day.
Prayer
Dear God,
You created the heavens and the earth, and you created me. Just as you didn’t create the world to be empty, but rather to be inhabited by people, you didn’t create me to be empty, but rather to have your Spirit reside in me. You are the most perfect and beautiful creator. Thank you for the work you have done in me, and the work you will continue to do in me. No matter how defeated or beaten I sometimes feel, your Word teaches me that this is not the end. Your creative work in me has not been completed yet, and you promise that the end result will be nothing less than glorious, for I am being transformed into the likeness of Christ day by day. I will trust you and cling to this promise all the days of my life. I pray this in the name of Jesus, the creator of heaven, earth, and my body, the temple of the Holy Spirit, amen.
God cannot complete the work in you unless he has begun a work in you. The work begins at the point of salvation. Have you given your heart, life, and body to Jesus through faith, repentance, and surrender to Christ? If not, consider doing this now. Is there someone you trust who you can talk to about salvation in Christ?
– Adapted from the book ‘Overwhelmed Again’ by Dr. Peter Golin and Dr. Winnie Chung
