A Kiss from Rose | I’m Still Working Here

WHY DOESN’T GOD GIVE UP ON ME?

Especially when there have been times I wanted to give up on myself.

Have you ever looked at your own life and wondered:

“God, how are You STILL dealing with me?”

Because I know me.

I know the prayers I prayed and then turned around and worried about anyway.

I know the lesson God taught me that apparently needed a Part Two, Part Three, and the extended edition.

I know the times I knew better and still didn’t do better.

The times God said, “Leave it alone,” and I decided I needed just one more investigation.

The times He opened a door and I hesitated.

The times He closed one and I stood there trying to pick the lock.

And yet…

God didn’t give up on me.

Why?

Because God’s commitment to me isn’t based on me performing perfectly.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

They are new every morning…” — Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)

Did you catch that?

His compassion doesn’t fail just because I sometimes do.

That doesn’t mean God overlooks everything I do. Love corrects. God convicts. God disciplines. God calls me higher.

But correction isn’t abandonment.

Sometimes the very fact that God is dealing with me is evidence that He hasn’t finished working on me.

Look at Peter.

Jesus knew Peter would deny Him. Peter did exactly that—three times. (Luke 22:54–62.)

But Peter’s worst moment wasn’t the end of his story.

Jesus restored him in John 21, and Peter later stood boldly preaching Christ in Acts 2.

God saw beyond the failure to the man Peter was still becoming.

And I believe that’s something we forget about ourselves.

I can become so focused on where I messed up that I forget God knows where He’s taking me.

Philippians 1:6 says:

“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

God knew I would need grace when He called me.

He knew I would have questions.

He knew some lessons would take longer than others.

He knew there would be days when my faith felt strong and days when I would have to pray, “Lord, help mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24.)

And He started working on me anyway.

Now THAT will humble you.

God doesn’t give up on me because His love isn’t as fickle as human patience.

He isn’t standing over me saying, “You have one more mistake before I’m through with you.”

He’s shaping.

Correcting.

Teaching.

Pruning.

Restoring.

Developing.

And sometimes starting with me again.

So when I stumble, I repent and get back up.

When God corrects me, I listen.

When I discover something in myself that needs work, I let Him work on it.

And when I become frustrated because I’m not yet the person I want to be, I remember:

God is not finished with me.

Romans 8:38–39 reminds me that nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So no, God’s grace is not permission for me to remain the same.

It’s the reason I have another opportunity to become different.

And maybe that’s the word somebody needs today:

Stop assuming your difficult chapter means God threw away the whole book.

He didn’t.

If God hasn’t given up on you, don’t you dare make the decision to give up on yourself.

Let Him correct you.

Let Him heal you.

Let Him mature you.

Let Him change you.

Let Him finish what He started.

Because apparently God looked at all of me—the good, the complicated, the growing, the still-needs-work parts—and said:

“I’M STILL WORKING HERE.”

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