Is anything ever finished?
My word for 2025 is finish. Two goals for this year were to get my first book in print and to finish the first draft of my second book. When I published Finding Joy in the West, I wished it had pictures. It still didn’t feel finished.
Then, ten days ago, when I drafted the end of my tour of the east coast, I told people the first draft of Finding Joy in the East was finished. Though I had written about arriving home, the story had gaps. So, as I wrote in Let’s make the last 100 days count, I will continue drafting for another fourteen days.
Technically, I reached my goals. Finding Joy in the West is in print, and draft one of Finding Joy in the East is finished. But will I ever accept that they are finished? I thought, is anything ever really finished?
Now, wait . . .
Before you think I’m being pessimistic, look at what I am learning. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” He wasn’t saying the story was over. He was saying he had finished the work he had been given to do.
Publishing Finding Joy in the West and completing the first draft of Finding Joy in the East doesn’t mean my journey is finished. It means I’ve done what I was called to do.
At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus came to earth to begin the work he would one day finish. His birth was not the end of the story, but the start of faithful obedience. If “finished” means being faithful with what we’re given, then maybe the joy isn’t in being done, but in saying yes to what we’re called to do.
*Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
Thanks for being a part of this journey!
If you enjoyed reading this blog, I’d love your support in growing this community! Please share this with your friends, family, or anyone who might find it interesting. Your shares help me reach more people to help them find their joy.
Joy M. Walker
December 18, 2025 @ 9:23 pm
Merry Christmas Joy!
May 2026 bring more accomplishments that feel “finished”!
December 18, 2025 @ 11:57 pm
Thank you, Donna. Been thinking about you lately. Hope your book is going well. I’d love to catch up sometime. Merry Christmas to you too!
December 18, 2025 @ 11:26 pm
Joy just finished reading your blog it touched me in a way I hadn’t expected. God has a task for us all and in his unique way he makes it known what it is . Things happen in our lives that can only be explained by simply stating I have faith in God , Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Thank you for reminding me of this.
December 18, 2025 @ 11:59 pm
Thanks for commenting, Tim. You are so right.
December 19, 2025 @ 10:52 am
Joy, I think this is the best blog you’ve had out yet. I have read it over and over, and I have been truly blessed. I have given devotional talks on the seven last words on the cross. It is finished, always was my favorite, because salvation‘s wondrous plan was done. Christ had died on the cross to give his blood to cover my sin and the sins of the world. He had accomplished what God sent him to do. And on Sunday morning, he broke the chains of death and rose from the grave to furnish us all with everlasting life if we believe. I have often wondered why I am still here on this earth, because the things God had given me to do I feel I have done. But he obviously feels as more for me to do before my life here is finished. In the meantime, I will try to be faithful and obedient in what he gives me to do. It was a real inspiration to read your blog on. Is it ever really finished? Thank you.
December 20, 2025 @ 8:16 pm
Thank you Mary Anne. I agree. If you are still here, your work here is not finished. Thank you for sharing.
December 20, 2025 @ 12:29 pm
Insightful thoughts. We so like to finish things and move on . . . but most of the time life isn’t like that. Thanks for a reasonable explanation full of hope.
December 20, 2025 @ 8:17 pm
Thanks, Ardie. You are so right about finishing things and moving on. Hope you and your family are doing well.
January 16, 2026 @ 8:09 pm
I agree with Mary Anne Gibson that this is your best blog yet!! Life is a journey and to do what Jesus is calling me to do right now at this stage of my life, always walking with Him, is the most joyful thing He wants for me. His obedience He lives out in me! I love Paul’s affirmation in Phil 1:4 & 6:
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, …
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
So He’s not finished (with me) yet!! ️
January 17, 2026 @ 3:10 pm
Thank you Julia.
January 16, 2026 @ 8:32 pm
I agree with Mary Anne Gibson, Joy! This is your best blog yet!! I am so thankful for Paul’s comments (aka, Jesus’s PROMISE!) in Philippians 1:4 & 6: “Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, …
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Jesus isn’t finished (with me!) yet!! And I can joyfully anticipate saying Yes to every step in my journey with Him, even after I see Him face to face!! HALLELUJAH! ️❣️