Reflection: You may not finish life feeling you have realised all your ambitions. The mere fact that you are a Christian in a post-Christian world will mean that your heart will still ache for the millions around you who don’t yet know God. You will continue to be appalled at the godlessness you see and feel grief at the meaningless hedonistic culture that is overtaking the next generation.
This is situation “normal” for Christians. We understand that perfection won’t come until Jesus comes again and inaugurates the kingdom of God. The writer of Hebrews lists the heroes of faith in the Old Testament who pushed on in faith without seeing the reality of what they hoped for (Hebrews 11). Instead, they suffered horrendous persecution.
The fact is this: we can only “succeed” in the things we have control over. We need to come to the door of death having faithfully attempted the things God has called us to do… and having grown a character that is godly, wise and loving. Then we can say with a clear conscience, “I have finished the race”.
Prayer: Dear Father, my heart breaks at what I have not seen completed. But my heart thrills at what you will complete. Thank you for letting me see into the future so I can rejoice in it.