The Real Transformer: Not A Toy

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I found this in my inbox this morning and knew immediately I wanted to use it in this blog. I asked the person who sent it for the identity of its source but I’ve not receive a reply yet.

I’m so anxious to share it, though, that I’m going to use it with no credit. If and when I find out the creator, I’ll alter this post. In the meantime, if you know the source, please tell me.

Enjoy the Process of Transformation

Many times, when we are waiting for an answer from God, it feels as though time were standing still. There are no answers. No visible signs of change. It is easy to get discouraged and to think that we have missed God, or that He is ignoring us somehow. I certainly felt that way many times.

I wanted to see instant change. I wanted to see the clear, evident answers to my prayers. And I wasn’t seeing anything. Time seemed to be dragging on, and in my mind and heart I felt as though it was going to be the same forever.

During one of these seasons I was in Sacramento and got up early to pray. It was dark at the time. As I looked out of the window, I saw the first glimpses of light on the horizon. A new day was beginning. Over the next 40 minutes, I kept looking at the sky, and enjoying all of the beautiful colors, the different shades, the streaks of darkness mingled with light. From one minute to the next I couldn’t notice any difference, but after some time, I noticed the sky had changed radically.

The fullness of daylight had come. Darkness was gone. The sun was shining brightly, welcoming a new day.

Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night and turned the light on? The sudden change from dark to light hurts your eyes. Your vision is a little blurry. It takes some time for the eyes to adjust.

But God doesn’t work that way. God could have made the transition from night to day much like us entering a dark room and turning on the light, but He chose to paint the sky with the beauty of the sunrise. He prepares all of creation to welcome a new day. The beauty is hard to describe, and it speaks of the greatness of the love of God toward us.

He created a world full of beauty for us to enjoy.

In the same way, He transforms us little by little. It is hard to notice each incremental change, but you can rest assured that He is at work. God wants us to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. That is His original design and plan for us.

Paul tells us, in Romans 8:28-30 that “…in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”

The seasons of waiting are hard, but they are necessary. While we are waiting, and it seems like nothing is going on, God is continuing His mission of transformation in our lives. You may not notice it now, but there is a lot of change going on in your life.

You see, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (Proverbs 4:18) God is working within you. And when the time is ready, you will be able to look back and see how far you’ve come.

So don’t despair, and don’t shrink back. Keep pressing in to Him, and keep seeking Him. God smiles when He looks at you and sees that there is transformation taking place in your heart and your spirit.

Trust Him with the details of your life, and start seeing your season of preparation as that beautiful sunrise that God is painting for you.

(End of article)

One of my first reactions when I read the email was not any new, original observation on my part but, rather, an expression to which I also cannot attribute a source. The thought was, simply, “enjoy where you are on the way to where you’re going.”

It reminded me also of something else, a verse from Philippians “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”(1:6 NLT)

So, let’s just relax and enjoy the journey with Jesus, knowing in faith, that we are being transformed as we talk with Him, listen to Him, give Him full permission to work in our lives and continually ask that He do so. That’s part of everyday Christianity.

Love,
Brother Bill

About the Author:

Bill Walker is the creator and webmaster of Everyday Christianity, which provides ministry and resources for Christian families. This article may be reprinted in your e-zine, e-book and/or on your web site so long as it includes this resource box and a link back to the website at http://www.EverydayChristianity.com.