A Season Ends, Confidence Remains

In this new season following my retirement from the Southwestern Union, my heart is filled with gratitude.

My gratitude and praise belong to God. His love, providence and mercy merit all my honor and recognition. It has been a profound privilege to be part of His plans and purposes and to serve Him in pastoral ministry.

At the same time, I am certain that no task has been fully accomplished, much less completed. I must acknowledge and accept that I cannot yet say, as Paul did in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have finished the race.”

I could choose to dwell on my own flaws and failures. I could focus on the mistakes and needs of our imperfect Church. I could fix my attention on the many crises and distractions around us. But instead, I choose to fix my eyes on Jesus—on His incomparable love and grace, His wisdom and power—recognizing that He guides both me and His precious Church.

When I do this, courage and hope rise again in what the Holy Spirit can accomplish if only we humble ourselves and seek Him with sincerity and with all our hearts.

I recall two meaningful messages from Paul that have stayed with me. During the storm that preceded the shipwreck described in Acts 27, Paul spoke to prisoners, sailors and soldiers with these words: “I urge you to keep up your courage ... so keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God.” And he explained why: “An angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,” Acts 27:22–25.

What I do sense is that from this point forward there will be a shift in roles and responsibilities—a change in pace and intensity—along with the joy of seeing new generations take the places on the front lines that some of us are vacating.

With eyes of faith, I observe with joyful anticipation those who will continue and complete the work entrusted to us. I see their faithfulness and commitment to God, their creativity, their energy and their renewed focus—a focus aligned with the Divine—that will propel our church forward until that glorious day of Jesus’ return.

Let us never forget that we belong to God and that we serve Him above all else. He has promised to be with us. When we live with this kind of courageous, faithful confidence, nothing and no one can hinder the fulfillment of God’s plan in us and in His people.

Then we will be able to say—just as the apostle said—“I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day,” 2 Timothy 1:12.

As I step away from this role, that is my prayer for you—and for the Church we love.

Let us live and serve with courage, with faith and hope and with confidence in our Lord—in His promises and all we have placed in His care, which He, by His grace, is safeguarding—so that, on that glorious day, you and I may lift our eyes and raise our arms to receive Jesus when He returns to take us home.

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By Osvaldo L. Rigacci

Vice President for

Multicultural Ministries

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