Paul says, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might FINISH my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God”. Paul was fixed on the finish.  Sometimes we can get caught up in everyday matters and become distressed.  God has a plan for each of us and Jesus is the author and finisher of the plan.  In other words, Jesus will give you the grace to finish.

It is easy to start a project, to start a diet, to start a new job, to start a new marriage.  However, it is another matter to finish any of those things.  It takes a decision to stay the course when the honeymoon is over and reality sets in that marriage is not always easy.  Marriage is not always easy but it is always wonderful if you decide it will be wonderful.  There is a story of a family in the old west coming to a new town and seeing an older man sitting at the entrance to the town.  They ask him about the town and what the people are like.  He in turn asks them how the people were of the town they left and they indicated the people were bitter and hard to get along with, so the man tells them it is about the same here.  Another couple comes up and asks the man the same question.  He asks them the same question he asked the first couple.  This couple says the people were great, so the man tells them the people were great here.

What the man was saying is that your attitude determines a great deal of what life will bring.  How do you see your life?  Do you believe things are holding you down and there is no escape?  Do you believe the tough time you are going through is forever?  Paul is saying that he has experienced tough times yet they will not determine his course.  He will complete the race with God’s grace.

God is no respecter of people.  He does not love Paul more than He loves you.  God’s grace will be sufficient for any storm, any obstacle, any impediment on your race.  It may look bleak now, but God’s grace will enable you to finish your course.  You will finish strong if you take your eyes of your circumstances and place them on God.

Imagine Joseph in the prison.  Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers.  As a slave working for Potiphar the Lord prospers Potiphar’s house and lands because of Joseph, yet Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses Joseph of a crime he did not commit.  Joseph is thrown into prison and the Lord prospers the man in charge of the prison because of Joseph.  Joseph interprets two dreams and one of those men is released from prison Joseph asks him to remember Joseph to Pharaoh, yet two years go by before Joseph’s name is mentioned to Pharaoh.

Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dream and is placed in command of all Egypt with only Pharaoh above him.  Joseph ends up saving Israel when the seven years of drought come.  Joseph went through all his struggles to be in position to lead and save him people at the right time.

I do not know what God has in store for you, but God knows.  Hold on and ask God for grace to finish your course.  This is not a time to give up, rather this is a time to get up.  Shake yourself and let fall all the discouragement you are feeling, all the hopelessness you are feeling, all the failure you are feeling.  Put on the garment of praise and begin to sing a new song unto the Lord.  A song of victory, a song of triumph, a song of joy, a song of celebration, a song  of deliverance.  See God positioning you for your purpose in this life.