He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion

Been almost half a year, I’m on my new job. Everything is good. The team culture, the working hours, the flexibility, the remuneration and benefit, life is definitely on a better side. The only downside is probably the fact that I have to learn everything from zero. From being a go to person whenever someone has query in my previous workplace to being a nobody. A new kid on the block.

The learning part is challenging and exciting at the same time. Exciting karena belajar banyak hal baru, system baru, rules baru dll. Seru banget otak kayak diasah terus jadi gak tumpul. But the excitement comes in a package with the challenges. I was trained on many different tasks, some are easy and straightforward, sekali dua kali kerjain yep ok bisa. But some other tasks take longer to learn. Multiple practices needed before they become familiar.

People say “practice makes perfect.” So keep practicing, that’s how you get good. Look at those best sports players and musicians, they are often referred to as those who put the most time in (practicing). I agree 100%, mastery takes hard work and there is no substitute for practice. But what’s not being said is behind all those practices, there will be days when you miss the kick, play the wrong note, mess up, fail, make mistakes.

Making mistakes, that’s the part I struggle. I’d think that after all the hours invested in the training and practices, I’d have the task perfected by now. Nope, there are still times when I make mistake, when I still haven’t gotten it right. And whenever that happens, I would ‘beat’ myself up a bit too hard. I’d think I am a failure.

Until one day I was reminded that I am still a work in progress. My work, my Christian life is not a sprint competition. Rather it is a long distance race, a marathon-type challenge, beckoning us to run well with endurance, to keep pace, to stay focused with eyes fixed on Jesus, and to finish strong (Hebrews 12:1-2).

I am not done yet and God is not done with me yet. He is still working on me, transforming, refining, and redeeming. Corrections, new learning, mistakes, they are all part of my work in progress. And God who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

God bless.
AS