One of the unexpected blessings of our father-and-son road trip was discovering places we hadn’t originally planned to visit. After adding Canyonlands to our itinerary, we continued down the road to Arches National Park. Looking back, I can’t imagine making that trip without experiencing it. Arches is another one of those places that almost seems unreal.
As we drove through the park, one incredible formation after another came into view. We stopped to see Balanced Rock standing as if it had been carefully placed there by hand. We walked beneath the towering Double Arch and stood in amazement at its sheer size. We admired the North and South Window Arches, each providing a different view of the landscape beyond. In the distance stood Delicate Arch, perhaps the most recognizable symbol of Utah and one of the most famous natural landmarks in America.
Each formation was impressive in its own way. But what fascinated me most wasn’t simply how beautiful they were. It was realizing they weren’t carved overnight. Every arch in the park has been shaped over countless years through heat, wind, rain, snow, freezing temperatures, and time. Every season left its mark. Little by little, what once appeared to be an ordinary rock formation became something extraordinary.
That was the sermon. God is always shaping us, even when we don’t realize it.
The Apostle Paul wrote these encouraging words:
…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6
What a wonderful promise. God never starts a project He intends to abandon. The moment we trust Christ as our Savior, He begins shaping us into the image of His Son. Sometimes that work is obvious. More often, it happens quietly through the ordinary seasons of life.
We often think God shapes us only through hardship. He certainly does. Trials deepen our faith. Disappointments teach us to trust Him. Difficult seasons remind us how much we need His strength. But those aren’t the only tools in His hands. God also shapes us through joyful moments. Through friendships. Through marriage. Through children. Through opportunities to serve. Through success. Through quiet days that seem almost ordinary.
Every season leaves its mark, but every season also serves God’s purpose. As I thought about that truth, my mind drifted back through different seasons of my own life. I remember the first time I held my oldest child. In that moment, I experienced unconditional love in a way I had never fully understood before. God used that season to shape my heart as a father. Looking back now, I can see countless moments like that. Some were filled with joy. Others were marked by difficulty. Every one of them became another tool in the hands of the Master Craftsman.
Walking through Arches with Drew, I couldn’t help but think about another season that was about to begin. College would shape him in ways neither of us could fully imagine. New friendships, new responsibilities, new opportunities, and yes, even new challenges would all become part of God’s work in his life.
I’ve already watched that happen with my other children. Each one has walked a different path. Each has been shaped by different experiences. Yet through it all, God has been faithful. Today, I am thankful that each of our children loves the Lord and desires to serve Him. Looking back, I can see that God was shaping them long before I recognized what He was doing.
The same is true for every one of us. It is easy to become impatient with God’s timing. We want Him to finish the work quickly. We pray for immediate answers. We hope for instant maturity. But Arches National Park reminded me that beautiful things are rarely formed overnight. God is far more interested in shaping our character than speeding up our journey. The masterpiece He is creating in your life isn’t finished yet. So don’t become discouraged if the process seems slow.
The God who began His work in you knows exactly what He is doing, and He will be faithful to complete it.
Personal Reflection: What season of life are you in today? Perhaps it is one of joy and celebration. Maybe it is one of uncertainty or difficulty. Whatever season you find yourself in, remember that God is still at work. Trust Him with the process. The masterpiece He is creating in you isn’t finished yet.
Part One – God Can Preserve What Time Cannot (Petrified Forest Naitonal Park)
Part Two – God’s Greatness Produces Humility (Grand Canyon National Park)
Part Three – The Narrow Way is Always Worth It (Zion Naitonal Park)
Part Four – Every Life is Unique (Bryce Canyon National Park)
Part Five – God Sees the Whole Map (CanyonLands National Park)
Part Six –
Part Seven –
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