I don’t know about you, but I often become frustrated with how long the process of sanctification, making me more like Jesus, seems to take. Iaian Duguid reminds us that we are already perfectly beautiful in the eyes of God because we now own Christ’s righteousness — we are ‘justified.’ He also reminds us that even as we struggle in our sin, we have much to be thankful about right now. God is working in us through the gospel of grace, and his timing is perfect!

“In Christ we have someone who has taken the death that we deserved and has paid fully for our sins. His perfect obedience is now credited to our account, exactly as if it were our own. In him we are justified freely right now, sinners though we are. In that reality lies our hope, our peace, and our comfort in the weary wilderness. How long, then, will you and I refuse to believe in this God who has so wonderfully demonstrated his love for us in so many ways? How long will we trust in ourselves and judge others? How long will we become angry and frustrated over our own lack of sanctification and the failures of others?

We must look to the Lord and submit our hearts to him, trusting in his goodness and mercy, believing that his timing is perfect, being filled with thankfulness for his death and resurrection. We must ask God to teach us wisdom and patience, grace and gentleness, and, above all, love. The day will come when our earthly struggles and rebellions will be over, and the Lord will welcome us into his presence; then all our frustrations will finally be over. Until then, the good news of his gospel of grace will faithfully sustain our thirsty souls step by step along the way.” Iaian Duguid, Numbers