Yesterday I talked a little about my past and so often I think we question if God can actually transform our past.

I can tell you, based on my personal experience alone, that yes He can!

There are so many broken pieces to my story. At times I believed that I was just too broken to be put back together. Then years ago a blogger (now author) Angie Smith wrote about how she smashed this pitcher she had and through prayer, and patience, glued it back together.

I was so moved by this visual. I too found myself broken after a miscarriage, lost and angry at a God that would let something like that happen. I thought that we had finally gotten ourselves on the “right” path. I thought we deserved a pregnancy.

For months I questioned God but when I read Angie’s post, saw her own brokenness and how God was slowly working with her and through her to bring her to healing…and I believed it might just be possible for me too.

So I bought my own pitcher. And one evening I smashed it and then set to task to put it back together.

It sits on my shelves today, a reminder that while my broken pieces didn’t fit back together like new, and the scars are still evident…I am a new person. And the cracks in the pitcher allow light through in a way that a whole pitcher could not.

Some of the things I have gone through in the past 41 years have made me more compassionate towards others that are hurting. I have empathy in a way that might not be possible without my past. And having found the hope that I have in Christ…I want others to know about His redeeming power too!

The enemy would like to see me broken and helpless. But through God I am able to be a witness to His power and grace in my life. God has transformed me in so many ways. And he continues to transform those places in my heart that remain selfish and self-centered.

God doesn’t expect me to be perfect and have it all together.

And even better, He can still use me in spite of all my failings! So many of the prominent people in the Bible were people that were, seemingly, the least likely to be used by God. Jesus didn’t spend time with the “perfect” people. He surrounded Himself with the broken, the thieves,  the murderers and unfaithful. Tax collectors and people caught in adultery.

Paul, one of my favorites, spent years persecuting Christians only to be transformed and used in a mighty way throughout his time then and through his words today. But Paul recognized that he needed God more than anything.

Paul knew that we needed to remain in communication with God through prayer. Even after his conversion, he still struggled with sin. This is a man that walked with Jesus in the flesh, and still struggled. Oh can I tell you how much hope that gives me?!

God can and will transform your past.

Isaiah 43: 16-19 says this

“Thus says the Lord,
    who makes a way in the sea,
    a path in the mighty waters,
¹⁷ who brings forth chariot and horse,
    army and warrior;
they lie down, they cannot rise,
    they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
¹⁸ “Remember not the former things,
    nor consider the things of old.
¹⁹ Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert.”

Behold, He is doing a new thing. For me…for you! Do you believe it friend?!

God loves us so much, He poured His grace over us through the blood of His Son so that if we chose to turn to Him we might spend eternity with Him. What a gift. Do you have that assurance for yourself?

I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to share the Gospel Truth here. The Bible tells us that ALL fall short of the glory of God. No one is blameless/sinless. None of us have the right to be in the presence of a Holy God. Knowing this, God chose to send His Son as a living sacrifice for our sins. Every dark part of my past, of yours, was nailed on that cross with Jesus. By the shedding of Holy blood, the penalty of our sins was covered. In John 5:24 it says “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” The debt has been paid and all we need to do is put our faith in the God that gave us His Son.

Will you still struggle? Yep, likely you will. I sin daily. But those sins were covered and I walk in the freedom of knowing that my faith in God has passed me from death to life. Talk about a transformation!

There is such hope in this message of Truth. God is so good and so loving. Are you certain of your salvation? If you have questions, would you please contact me? I don’t and won’t have all the answers…but I would love to pray for you and could connect you with my Pastor who might be able to answer questions you have better than I can! Understanding this fundamental truth is so important. If you aren’t certain, don’t wait to seek out answers. Pray that God would open your heart and eyes so that you might know Him more.

Lord, I don’t know who is reading today or the condition of their heart, but You do Lord. I have seen Your mighty redemptive work in my own life and I am so grateful. I was walking in such darkness and because of You Lord, I now stand in Your light. Thank you for Your sacrifice. Thank you for loving us so much. I pray for all who may not believe today Lord. For those who question Your existence, or haven’t yet heard Your Name. I know that You wish that none would perish Lord. Give me courage, strength and wisdom to continue to share Your Truth and the hope I have found in You. We praise Your MIGHTY Name Lord, Amen!