Finishing Well

The book of Acts records the golden days of Paul’s ministry. It seemed effortless for him to be wide awake at midnight in a jail cell, praying and singing hymns at the top of his lungs despite his biting chains. Scripture tells us the jail doors flew open and everyone’s chains fell off. Prisoners applauded him, and the jail keeper—saved instantly—invited him to his house. Things were looking up!

But if you look closer at his last epistle, you see another side. A harder side. Paul was in jail again when he wrote 2 Timothy. But this time there was no miracle, no escape. Winter was approaching, and Paul felt old and tired. Deserted by his friends, he struggled against sickness. His friend Trophimus was also sick, yet Paul couldn’t do a thing to heal his friend. He couldn’t even heal himself!

Yet the old apostle didn’t allow discouraging circumstances to get him down. Things were different than in the “golden days of old,” yet he courageously hung on to God (4:18).

Some days you feel life is on the upswing; other days it’s flat. Sometimes you sense the miracles in your life; other times life seems very ordinary. Are you energized today to meet a challenge head-on? or do you feel tired and trapped? Life’s circumstances can make you feel like a yo-yo, but don’t allow the ups and downs to get you down. Commit to God to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (4:7).

Give me strength, Lord, to finish well and not allow life’s disappointments—along with age, aches, and pains—to dampen my trust.

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