Trusting the Builder

When our youngest daughter was in middle school, we bought her a bed from IKEA. IKEA furniture is great until you try to put it together.

Two hundred tiny screws. A tool that looks like it came from a Happy Meal. Instructions written in something that might be Swedish. I learned two important lessons that day: patience really is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and Allen wrenches may be from the devil.

Life works the same way. Whether you’re building a family, a career, or a future, it rarely comes with simple instructions. But here’s the good news: God is building your life into something greater than you could ever imagine.

And that raises an important question. What does that require?

Built on the Right Foundation

Paul writes to a group of believers living in a pluralistic culture, surrounded by voices promising the secret to a better life. Sound familiar?

His answer is not more rules or self-improvement hacks. It’s a Person.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him.” Colossians 2:6–7

The phrase “built up” literally means to build upon something already in place. Scripture makes it clear that the foundation is Jesus himself.

What’s striking is that this phrase is both present and passive. The work is ongoing, and we are not the ones doing the building. God is.

And honestly, that’s a relief. Some of us would never finish a LEGO set without divine intervention.

God Is Patient with the Process

I’ve seen this at work in my own life. When I played tennis in high school and college, I was pretty laid back off the court. On the court, not so much. Let’s just say if my serve had been as big as my temper, I might have won more matches.

I had said yes to Jesus early on, but I hadn’t yet learned how to walk in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5 lists gentleness as one of the fruits of the Spirit, and God had clearly started a work in me. For a while, I just wasn’t cooperating.

The foundation was there. And thankfully, God doesn’t give up on us.

But Paul isn’t just talking about individual growth.

God Is Building Something Bigger

God is not building a custom home for one person. He’s building something collective. Something called the church.

Peter describes it this way: “You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.” (1 Peter 2:5)

God sees the church not as an ordinary building, but as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and his special possession.

And the longer I follow Jesus, the more I value the church. Why? Because I’ve seen what living stones can become in the hands of the Master Builder.

I’ve seen a college student use their gift of encouragement to lift others up. I’ve seen a single mom give generously so ministry could move forward. I’ve seen faithful prayers, behind-the-scenes service, and quiet teaching become bricks in the spiritual house God is building.

That’s what we want Calvary to be. A vibrant community where every person is connected, growing, and serving.

Together, God is building something far greater than any of us could build alone.

What Does This Require from Us?

First, dependence. God is the builder. We are the stones. Which means you can stop micromanaging your sanctification.

Second, patience. Spiritual maturity takes time. We all wish God built at the speed of Amazon Prime, but he works more like a master craftsman than a mass producer.

Third, community. Buildings require many stones joined together. Faith is not a DIY project. We need each other.

And finally, purpose. God isn’t just building better people. He’s building a place for his Spirit to dwell. A house that reflects his glory to a watching world.

Keep Building

So what are you building your life on?

If the foundation is Jesus, you can trust that the Builder knows exactly what he’s doing.

And if you’re part of this church family, know this: every prayer, every act of service, every word of encouragement is helping build something that will last.

So let’s keep building. With open hands. Humble hearts. Strong foundations.

Until the world sees Christ through what he’s building right here at Calvary.