So, as I’ve mentioned many times before, I have crazy amazing friends. We love to fellowship together (a fancy way of saying I “just happen” to show up at their homes around dinner time), encourage one another (tease one another mercilessly), and experience life (watch tv and eat ice cream) together. A few weeks ago, I’m went on a walk with my friends Ali and Hali. Now, you should know that I was Hali’s small group leader when she was in the 8^th grade. She is now an amazing, beautiful, strong, God-fearing young adult…and a dear friend. Although we are both adults, I must admit that we tend to occasionally act like adolescents with one another. On this particular walk, I began pestering her. Hali saw it coming and instantly had me in a headlock and before I knew what had happened, I was flat on my back in the grass. Did I mention she is strong! You see, she’s an athlete and I’m just a “wanna be” athlete! May I add this all occurred in front of my pastor’s house!? We laughed and she helped me up and the phrase for the evening became, “don’t start what you can’t finish!”

This silly little playful wrestling match (butt kicking) got me thinking…how often do I feel like I start something that I can’t finish? How often do I feel called to pick a fight, stand up for a cause, or launch a project that I don’t believe I have the strength, energy, or talent to complete? There are so many examples in the Bible of people called to do things beyond their human capabilities. David was laughed at for picking a fight with Goliath. Daniel was considered a fool for getting himself thrown into a lion’s den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were doomed for taking on a fiery furnace. Moses looked like a fool taking on the powerful Egyptian pharaoh and Elijah didn’t look much brighter challenging the prophets of Baal. And you want to talk about starting something you can’t finish? How about Gideon who took on all of Midian with just 300 men wielding trumpets instead of swords! Or 12 ordinary men who dared to believe following a carpenter from Nazareth could change their lives and eventually the world.

When God calls us to something, He knows we do not have the ability to complete it on our own. In fact that’s the very reason He calls us. God is not looking for the most talented, the most intelligent, or the most courageous. He is looking for those who will faithfully follow Him into tasks and adventures that seem impossible with human eyes. He is glorified all the more in our weaknesses. And when I step out in faith and start something I cannot finish, I am forced to rely on God for everything necessary to see the task to completion. It is God’s reputation on the line, not mine. And though I fail on a regular basis, God does not fail. Though He may ask me to start something I cannot finish, He ALWAYS finishes what He starts!

So what is God calling you to start? He’ll do the “finishing,” but you need to take the first step of faith!