Under Construction

We have some exciting weeks ahead.

Once we get to August, everything will look different. The rhythm of how we gather will shift as we move our services into the fellowship hall during the renovation. For many of us, that kind of change can feel a little disorienting.

But in some ways, that is exactly what makes this moment meaningful. What is happening in our sanctuary is a visible reminder of something that has always been true about our lives. We are under construction.

First Baptist Church is under construction, both literally and spiritually.

The literal work begins May 31 as we replace pews, install new carpet, and repaint the sanctuary. It is an important and exciting step forward for our church.

At the same time, it allows us to reflect on the deeper work that God is continually doing within each of us. Each one of us is a work in progress. We are all moving along a faith journey where God is shaping, forming, and refining us over time.

Photo by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash

Every good construction project begins with a plan, a set of blueprints. Paul reminds us in Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” God has not begun something in you only to leave it unfinished. He is purposeful, and He is faithful to carry His work through to completion. We can see this even in what is happening around us. This renovation has grown out of both necessity and a generous willingness within our church to move into a new season. It reflects a shared trust—trust in the plan, trust in those leading the work, and trust in where God is guiding us as a congregation. It is also a reminder of how thankful we can be for a church family that is willing to step forward together in faith.

That same kind of trust is required in our spiritual lives. We are called to trust not only the process, but the One who designed it.

In Jeremiah 18, God gives us a powerful picture of how He works. The prophet is sent to watch a potter shaping clay on a wheel. When the clay becomes marred, the potter does not discard it. Instead, he reshapes it into something new. God then says, “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand.”

This is what it means to be under construction.

God continually shapes, refines, and reforms us. The work is ongoing and intentional. At the same time, it is not always easy.

While many of us look forward to the finished product of a renovation, the demolition phase can be uncomfortable. Some people enjoy change and anticipate what is new, while others find it difficult to let go of what is familiar.

The same tension exists in our spiritual lives.

When God begins to reshape us, we do not always welcome the process. At times, we embrace it; at other times, we resist it. Yet the work is necessary if we are to grow.

There is a phrase in Christian history known as “the dark night of the soul,” often associated with John of the Cross. It describes a season in which God may feel distant, prayer becomes difficult, and faith feels strained.

This is not a season of abandonment. It is a season of transformation.

God uses these moments to strip away what holds us back, whether it is pride, past wounds, or misplaced security, so that something deeper and more lasting can take shape.

We see this pattern throughout Scripture. Abraham waited years for God’s promise. Joseph endured betrayal and imprisonment. Moses fled into the wilderness before being called. David spent years pursued by Saul. Even the disciples experienced the deep confusion and grief of the cross before the joy of the resurrection.

The story of Scripture moves through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There is no resurrection without the cross, and no Sunday without the waiting of Saturday.

At the center of this story stands Jesus.

Peter describes Him using a construction image: the cornerstone. Quoting Psalm 118, he declares, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Acts 4:11). In the ancient world, the cornerstone was essential to the entire structure. It set the alignment for everything else. If it were properly placed, the building would stand firm. If it were not, the entire structure would be compromised. Peter makes it clear that Jesus is the cornerstone.

He was rejected, yet God established Him as the foundation. There is no other foundation upon which we can build our lives. We will either reject Him and stumble, or we will build upon Him in faith.

Photo by Tasha Kostyuk on Unsplash

Peter goes on to say, “Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5). That is both an invitation and a challenge. To be built on Christ means more than simply agreeing with His teaching. It means entrusting our lives to Him and allowing Him to shape us according to His purpose.

Stones taken from a quarry are not immediately ready for use. They must be cut, shaped, and fitted into place. The process requires time and care, and it is not always comfortable.

In the same way, God works on the rough edges of our lives as He forms us into His people.

The question we must consider is whether we are willing to allow that work to take place.

As we enter this season of renovation, our goal is not simply to update a room. It is to remain fully engaged in what God is doing among us and within us.

The location of our worship will change temporarily. The surroundings may feel unfamiliar. Some of our routines will be adjusted. But what matters most will not change.

Our mission remains the same. Our calling remains the same. And the God who is at work in us remains the same. So this is a season to stay engaged, to stay present, and to remain faithful in the middle of the process.

Whether we gather in a sanctuary or a fellowship hall, God is still building His church and at work in each of us. And if you find yourself in a season where that work feels difficult or even dark, do not lose heart.

God is still at work, and He is not finished yet.