Pinky Promise

Hold tight to His promise.

How many times have you heard that phrase? My guess is too many to count.

With sweaty hands and a weak grip, our shaky fingers slip with each reminding failure. How much longer until I give up completely?

See, we desperately want to be shaped-- we want to learn patience, learn strength in adversity, learn hope throughout uncertainty; but what we don't realize is throughout this chiseling of ourselves, pain is consistent. You cannot learn patience without being given the opportunity to exercise a need or desire to obtain something that is only just out of reach. You cannot learn strength in adversity without first being crippled, injured, and then restored. Yet, we look at "heros" in history-- world-shakers, motivators. People like Martin Luther King Jr., Mother Theresa, Harriet Tubman. These people not only lived their lives fiercely, they let their experiences shape them. Of course, it did not come without pain or trials. They weren't always supported. Sometimes, I'm sure, they felt alone.

My point is, it's difficult to look up to such people, desire to be like them, but not understand that we will have to endure what seems like impossible situations, like they did.

How are you being shaped? I'm sure there's something in your life right now, a thorn in your flesh, that brings constant hurt, guilt, or regret. It's hard to see now, but it is creating greatness inside of you. Allow it. It is creating grace for others, love for all, and strength for you and those around you. Your prayer, now, should be how can you let this opportunity impact others? Let something come of it, through you and those in your life.

So hold tight, right?

Jesus does make promises. Promises of life, love, acceptance, joy, peace, and freedom. These promises, as we know, do not come without a price. You might be paying the price currently. You might have already paid the price, and asking yourself, "Where's the promise?" being told to "Hold tight," "Be faithful." These promise cannot and will not be broken.

I had a dear friend once explain to me a unique twist to a pinky promise. We've all done it. Some more than others. And some remain pinky promising into adulthood (guilty...). This friend would only let me pinky promise something if I bit my thumb, while they bit there's. He called it "Pinky promise-bite it!" Apparently, a pinky promise, until you bite it (or so the story goes), can be broken. However, once you bite it - it's forever.

This is God's pinky promise-bite it:

Philippians 1:6 (AMP)

"I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]."

You are unfinished. You may even remain unfinished until Jesus returns. But he promises (pinky promises-bite it) that He will complete His work. He's an artist, after all. Allow all of the colors to blend perfectly. Allow the canvas to dry. Allow the details of your chaos to be perfected into the most beautiful story - your story! Because He promises it will!