UN/Broken - Day 6

“And I am certain that God, who began the  good work within you, will continue his work  until it is finally finished on the day when Christ  Jesus returns.”
Philippians 1:6 NLT
 
On the wall in my office hangs a picture of Crazy  Horse Monument in South Dakota. Crazy Horse was a Native American leader, and the sculpture  was commissioned to celebrate the spirit of the Native American warrior and his people.

I first saw Crazy Horse on a trip with my family,  which profoundly impacted me. It’s a sculpture that has been in the works since 1948, and when  finished, it will be the world’s largest sculpture standing at just under 600 feet, three times the size of the Statue of Liberty.  They’ve been working on the sculpture for 75  years, and so far, the face of Crazy Horse is finished, and they’re working hard on his arm pointing off into the distance as he rides atop  his horse. They probably have another 20-30  years to go before it’s completed.

Under the picture in my office is the quote from  the apostle Paul in Philippians 1:6. Like the artists working on Crazy Horse, God is working  on each of us, restoring His image. On one hand, when we are in Christ, we are indeed  “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5: 17), and as such we are “God’s masterpiece…created anew in  Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2: 10). But we are also works in progress. That work won’t be  completed until “it is finally finished on the day Christ Jesus returns.”
 
What does this mean for our mental health  journey? It means we owe ourselves some grace for the journey, and we owe others the  same courtesy. God is at work in our lives, and  at times, it is a painstakingly slow process. Even Paul said, “I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I  want to do what is good, but I don’t.” (Romans 7:19)

The journey toward good mental health can often feel like two steps forward and three steps back, but in my experience, it’s not a linear path. There are good days, bad days, awful days. But the best way to approach it is one breath at a  time, one step at a time. In your worst  moments, it can feel like seeking good mental  health is all-consuming, but after a time, and  when you put in the work, you can wake up one day and realize that your mental health
struggles no longer control or dominate your every waking moment.

Rest assured, God is at work when you put your life into His hands. Remember, He is the potter;  you are the clay. (Isaiah 29:16) Let Him do His work. Perfection on this side of heaven means  God is taking our brokenness and putting us  back together, piece by piece, with the healing  power of the blood of Jesus Christ. When Jesus  comes, we will be fully restored in the twinkling  of an eye (I Corinthians 15:52). Until then, one breath, one step, at a time trusting in Jesus all  along the way.
 
JOURNAL: 

1. Are there any areas in your life where you  struggle with perfection? 
2. What fears do you have if others were to  find out you aren’t perfect or that you  messed up
3. As you look over your life for the last ten  years, what areas have you seen growth  and improvement (God at work)?