(My dissertation Committee: L to R: Dr. Matthew Haste, Dr. John David Trentham (Chair), Me, and Dr. Anthony Foster)
Nearly four years ago, I began a Ph.D. journey that seemed possible but also elusive. From papers needing to be written, views of authors needing to be understood, travel to and from the campus of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Louisville, KY, and more, the work was cut out for me. As you might imagine, there were ups and downs, discouragements and setbacks, and more that were faced and experienced at varying levels.
Then came 09:00 on November 25, 2024. On this day in Louisville, KY, I was set to defend my dissertation examining the holistic formation objectives, outcomes, strategies, and practices of Christian gap year programs. After a brief introduction from my supervisor, it was my time to present and defend a dissertation document that exacted many hours of thought, prayer, and consideration.
After a back-and-forth of questions, comments, and encouragement, I was asked to leave the room for my committee to deliberate about my project and its success or failure.
During that time, I walked through the SBTS library hallway, where old books were shelved and pictures of bygone eras of students were displayed.
Previously (as the image below depicts), I had felt a sense of abiding peace. Sure, nerves were still doing their thing, but God’s sovereign grace had settled in my heart and mind, enabling me to enter this moment calmly, confident that all would be well.
No sooner had I finished that thought than one of my committee members asked me to reenter the room for their decision. With all three standing and smiling, they each extended their hands to me and congratulated me on a successful defense of my dissertation.
A surreal sense of accomplishment washed over me, and I could just say, “Wow. Thank you.”
I had passed.
In the end, I have many reflections, but one that I will share here:
- The relationships in my life have sustained and enabled me to be where I am today. For them, I am ever-grateful!
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
There are many things in our lives that we all set our minds to accomplish.
Some of us can experience the completion of those endeavors, and some of us cannot. On the one hand, some don’t see the outcome they had hoped for for various reasons, whether life circumstances, their choices, and more. On the other hand, others do cross the finish line with multiple projects and pursuits.
What can we learn from these successes and so-called failures?
- Our success and failure does not define us.
- It’s easy to get a sense of our identity from the things we accomplish or not. What do I mean? Whether you have experienced success or so-called failure, you are tempted to let those things “be” or “determine” who you are. Christians find this impossible because they are already in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 2:20) by grace through faith.
- Therefore, a Christian’s identity is not tied to accomplishments or defeats but to God’s acceptance of us through His Son.
- Our journey pursuing greater and grander things for the glory of God does not end.
- The Christian is never satisfied with the latest this or that. Why? Because they know that this or that changes and develops. Thus, the Christian presses on, seeking to honor God and serve others in every new and dynamic season and sphere of life.
- Listen to the apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
- The finish line of passing from this life to the next is ever before us all, and our ultimate aim is the final day of standing before Christ.
- These moments, activities, accomplishments, and losses are all part of a greater purpose of preparing us to stand before our Lord. In the end, as significant as some of the achievements and as devastating as some of our losses are, they are placed in their proper position in light of the day we stand before Christ. Thus, Christians can move peacefully from one endeavor to the next because of God’s sovereign grace and formation throughout each experience.
- Once again, listen to the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
God help us to run this race with endurance!
— November 28, 2024