Daily Devotional: The Hidden Power of the Unfinished
By Flame of Provision - Jeremiah Swann
Daily Devotional: The Hidden Power of the Unfinished
Trusting God in the Middle of the Story
Opening Prayers
Modeh Ani
Modeh Ani Lefanecha, Melech Chai Vekayam, Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati B’chemla, Rabba Emunatecha.
“I thank You, living and eternal King, for You have graciously restored my soul within me. Great is Your faithfulness.”
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, Aramaic Translation)
“Abun d'bashmaya, nethqadash shmakh. Tethe malkuthakh. Nehwe tsevyankh, aykanna d'bashmaya aph b'arha. Hab lan lahma d'sunqanan yaomana. Washboq lan hobain, aykana d’aph hnanan shbaqin l’hayabain. W’la ta’lan l’nesyuna, ela patsan min bisha. Metol dilakh hi malkutha w’khaila w’teshbukhta l’alam almin. Amen.”
The Servant’s Prayer
“Lord, I stand at the threshold of the unknown. My heart longs for completion, but You invite me to trust in the process. I surrender the unfinished, the unresolved, the still-forming parts of my story into Your hands. Let me find peace not just in the destination, but in the journey itself. Amen.”
Introduction: When the Brushstrokes Stop Mid-Painting
Picture an exquisite masterpiece—color upon color, shimmering highlights of gold capturing fleeting rays of light. Then, an abrupt end: the painting is unfinished, edges fading into blank canvas. It’s as though the artist’s hand paused mid-creation, leaving us in a swirl of possibility, tension, and incomplete beauty.
We yearn for finality in our personal narratives—neat endings, comfortable resolutions. But what if our greatest spiritual breakthroughs happen precisely in the middle of the story? What if the unpolished, unwrapped, unresolved portions of our lives are where God’s hand is most actively crafting a masterpiece?
Biblical Snapshots: The Beauty of the Incomplete
Moses, The Deliverer Who Never Entered the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 34:1-5) Moses, who parted seas and met God face to face, gazed upon Canaan from a distance but never crossed over. An apparent anticlimax—yet he fulfilled his unique purpose in guiding Israel to the very threshold of promise. Even if our personal “Canaan” remains out of reach, God can still complete His purpose through us.
The Rich Young Ruler Who Walked Away (Mark 10:17-22) Seeking eternal life, he encountered Christ’s radical invitation—then departed sorrowful. Scripture never tells us the rest. Did he return? That unfinished note compels us to believe God still works beyond our last glimpses of a person’s story. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs occur beyond the pages we can see.
The Blind Man Healed in Stages (Mark 8:22-25) Jesus could have healed instantly, yet the man first saw “trees walking.” Only a second touch brought clarity. Why this two-step process? Perhaps to remind us that spiritual growth is often incremental. God values the journey, not just the instant fix.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Despite miraculous power and unshakeable boldness, Paul battled a persistent thorn. God’s response? “My grace is sufficient for you.” Rather than removing the thorn, God displayed His power in perseverance—showing that unresolved struggles can be the arena for divine strength.
Jesus, The Savior Who Left Before the Story Ended (Acts 1:6-11) The disciples watched Him ascend, hoping He’d restore Israel right then. Instead, He entrusted them with unfinished work—the expansion of the Gospel through the Church. Sometimes, the real story ignites when it appears our expected resolution has vanished into the clouds.
Word Study: Unfinished Yet Unfolding
In Progress (Hebrew: בַּעֲלוּם – Ba'alum)
Conveys hidden, incomplete development.
Isaiah 55:8-9: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts… so are My ways higher than your ways.” God’s vantage point transcends our timelines, unveiling potential where we see only delay.
Perfected (Greek: τελειόω – Teleioō)
Implies reaching maturity, not necessarily a neat conclusion.
Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…” God’s masterpiece might remain a work-in-progress until the final day of Christ.
Trust (Hebrew: בָּטַח – Batach)
To rest securely, despite incomplete evidence.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart… lean not on your own understanding.” Real trust flourishes when answers remain out of view.
Journaling or Meditation Prompts (Without a Full Action Plan)
Note: These daily prompts focus on personal reflection rather than structured tasks. Let each prompt invite you into deeper intimacy with God.
The Beauty of Incomplete
Ponder an area in your life that feels half-formed or unresolved. Write or quietly reflect: “What might God be doing beneath the surface?”
Moses’ Mountaintop
Read Deuteronomy 34:1-5. Imagine standing at the edge of a dream you never fully enter. Journal how God’s purpose can still flourish even when a personal desire remains out of reach.
Seeing Men Like Trees
Reflect on Mark 8:22-25. Ask God to reveal where your own vision might be partially blurred. Thank Him for gradual growth, trusting He’ll lead you deeper.
Walking Away or Walking Deeper
Revisit Mark 10:17-22. Consider a time you hesitated or walked away from a hard call of discipleship. Invite God’s grace into that memory, believing the final chapters aren’t written.
Grace in the Thorn
Read 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Contemplate a “thorn” in your life. Ask Jesus how His power can shine more through the pain than by removing it.
Awaiting the Ascended King
Reflect on Acts 1:6-11. Where do you feel left with an “unfinished mission”? Ask the Holy Spirit to equip you in that tension, trusting the promise that Christ’s departure isn’t abandonment.
God Still Painting
Offer a final day of gratitude. List five areas where you sense God’s brushstrokes—unfinished, yet full of potential. Affirm: “God is still working,” and let peace settle in your heart.
Closing Reflections: Embracing the Master Artist
We often crave a tidy narrative—but God’s process usually includes deliberate pauses, half-formed scenes, and quiet transitions that shape our faith. Jesus isn’t a hasty painter rushing to display the final masterpiece. He works with layers of grace, letting each stroke dry in season so the next layer can adhere. The tension in our hearts—between longing and fulfillment—becomes holy ground if we yield it to Him.
Perhaps the richest beauty lies in this “middle,” where trust is tested, hope refines us, and we learn that intimacy with God transcends completed tasks or immediate answers. The testimony of Scripture and the saints is that God’s best work often unfurls in the unresolved spaces.
Philippians 1:6: “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Until that day, rest in the knowledge that if you feel like a half-finished portrait, God’s hand still holds the brush. Let the journey itself become an act of worship.
Final Prayer
“Lord, for every patch of our lives that feels unfinished, remind us of Your infinite artistry. Let us find peace in each incomplete chapter, content to grow in faith while You compose the final canvas. May our daily communion with You become a steady brush of love across the tapestry of our souls, until Your masterpiece is fully revealed in the radiance of Christ. Amen.”
Final Reflection
“Which part of your life feels most unfinished right now, and how might you discover a deeper intimacy with Christ by leaning into that incomplete space rather than rushing to solve it?”
May each question, each pause in your story, become an invitation to trust the One who holds all things—seen and unseen—together in His masterful, unfolding plan. Continue to rest in His timing, allowing the Spirit to paint each new stroke of grace across the canvas of your life. And never forget: no brushstroke is wasted in the hands of our loving God.
