Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24

This morning I learned the story of a friend I had lost touch with more than thirty years ago. Ten years ago, he suffered a severe adverse reaction to a flu vaccine that left him paralyzed from the neck down. As painful as that reality is, what struck me most was not how quickly the story moved past the tragedy—but how clearly God’s redemptive work took center stage.

What could have been the end became a beginning.

Through circumstances none of us would choose, my friend finished a college degree. He now teaches and leads ministry at a local school. Most importantly, his focus has shifted decisively toward God in every aspect of his life. What once felt off the rails has been brought back on track—not by his strength alone, but by God’s faithful hand.

God truly used my friend’s circumstances for his ultimate good.

I was reminded of something I heard recently: God doesn’t want just part of us. He desires complete transformation. Scripture tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2). And we’re given this assurance: “He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

How often do we rely on ourselves to change and grow? How often do we grow discouraged when our efforts fall short? What confidence it gives us to know that the God of peace is the One at work in us—and that He will surely do it.

Most of us will never face challenges like the one my friend endured. But many of us face trials that could easily drive us away from God instead of toward Him. This week, let us choose to lean in. Let us focus not on what we have lost, but on what God desires to bring about in our lives.

He is faithful—and He is not finished.