One of the most annoying things while driving is having to drive a different way because of a construction zone that is blocking the path. We often say things like, “When are they going to finish that road?” or “It seems like they have been working on that project forever!” as we impatiently drive an alternate route. After what seems like an eternity, the new road is finally finished and it is way better than it was before. The hard part is being patient with the construction zone throughout the process.
As I drove around a construction zone the other day, I thought about how in many ways, our lives are also under construction. Just as the road crews work tirelessly to improve the streets, God is constantly at work in us, upgrading and refining us. Even though the process can often be long, painful, and inconvenient at times, we can trust that the end result is going to be better than we could have ever imagined. (Ephesians 3:20)
A Biblical character that illustrates this trust and unwavering commitment to God’s construction process is Daniel. In 536 B.C. Daniel and his three friends are taken from their homeland in Israel to the foreign culture of Babylon. Despite feeling the pressure to conform, Daniel remained faithful to God in everything. From small choices like maintaining his diet in the royal palace to more life-threatening choices such as praying openly to God when it was outlawed, Daniel showed that he was committed to his faith.
One day, King Darius heard that Daniel was continuing to pray three times a day even though he had issued a decree against it and the king became greatly distressed. Therefore, he ordered that Daniel be thrown into a lion’s den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Daniel 6:16) However, because of Daniel’s faith, God sent an angel from heaven to shut the lions’ mouth and he remained completely unharmed. (Daniel 6:23)
This story serves as an excellent reminder that spiritual growth isn’t instant. Even though we read about how God instantly delivered Daniel from trouble, it was a result of a steadfast commitment to serve God all his life. Daniel’s faith was strong in the moment because of the small choices of integrity he made every day.
Daniel was not perfect by any means, but his life teaches us a valuable lesson that we can all learn from. God is continually using our trials and choices to make us more like Christ. While this process can feel slow or difficult at times, the end result is always worth it.
In the world of instant gratification that we live in, it can be frustrating when our dreams or goals for ourself are taking a long time. I know for me, I have a big vision for my life but when I look at the current season that I am in, I get discouraged. In these moments, it is important to remember that my life is a construction project. It may not look like I want it to right now, but through the power of daily commitment to following Jesus and submission to God’s construction plan, I will see His vision come to pass.
“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)
The Bigger Picture: Life is like a construction zone, messy, slow, and sometimes frustrating. But just as construction projects lead to better roads, God is constantly at work refining and upgrading us for a greater purpose.
The Bigger Picture 