When we were baptized into Christ, we were taken on as a project by our Father in heaven. That means that every day He works on us. And He does so by means of His Word and the crosses that we must bear in this life. That can be discouraging. But it need not be. For our crosses are indications that God continues to work upon us; that He is not finished with us. And He won't be finished with us completely until we rise again from the dead on the Last Day.