Paul begins with this encouragement in verse 6: “the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” For Paul, joy comes from the acknowledgment that since the beginning, God has been working in our lives, and will be relentless and reliable in working in us through every challenge of life. God is not only with us along the way, but is ahead of us at the finish line to see us through to the end.