Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 NIV

He’d come so far, but all she could see was how far he still had to go. Margo had forgotten the days when her young adult son couldn’t even get out of bed in his depression.

Followers of Jesus are works in progress—we’re not where we want to be as people. The good news is that God doesn’t view His not-yet-completed works as failures. In fact, scripture tells us that we can be confident of this: “…that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV). What God starts, He finishes.

But what’s more, God says, “I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will,” (Isaiah 46:10). As God moved systematically through His work of creation, at the conclusion of the first day, He didn’t say, “The only thing I’ve gotten done today is create light and separate it from darkness! No sky. No dry land or vegetation or stars! I’ve got so far to go!” No, Genesis says, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good” (Genesis 1:3). All of God’s works in progress are good.

When I’m frustrated with myself or with someone I love, it’s time to remember. Like the writer of Psalms, “I remember the days of old. I ponder your great works and think about what you have done” (Psalm 143:5). At every stage of our lives, as we allow God to work, to heal, to stretch us, He declares, “It is good,” over us.