Have you ever looked at your past and thought, “I can’t believe I made it this far?” Maybe that’s just me, but I think we’ve all been there. We all have parts of our story we wish we could erase, decisions we regret, or things that still haunt us.
Right now, at church, I'm teaching through a series in the book of Acts. This week, we’re landing in chapter 20, and it’s got me thinking about the power of transformation. In this chapter, Paul is saying goodbye to the elders in Ephesus, and it’s one of those moments where he’s totally real about his journey. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He talks about his struggles, his mistakes, and the cost of following Jesus. And even though Paul’s past was anything but perfect, he’s able to say with confidence that God used him in powerful ways despite all that.
It’s easy to look at Paul and think, “Of course, God used him—he was Paul.” But here’s the truth: God uses people like Paul because Paul was willing to be real. Paul wasn’t hiding his flaws. He was open about them. He understood that it wasn’t his perfection that mattered—it was his openness to God’s grace.
This reminds me of someone else who knew all about grace: John Newton. You’ve probably heard of Amazing Grace, right? It’s the song everyone knows, but I think we often forget the story behind it. Newton’s life was a mess. He was a slave trader, living a life full of sin and rebellion, but somewhere in the middle of all that, God grabbed hold of him. Newton didn’t clean up his act overnight, but God transformed him, and not only did Newton become a pastor, he wrote one of the most famous hymns in history.
I love how Paul’s story and Newton’s story are so similar. Both men had pasts that could’ve disqualified them from anything good. But God didn’t see their pasts as obstacles—He saw them as the very thing that would allow His grace to shine brighter. Paul and Newton weren’t perfect, but they were willing to let God work in their flaws. And that’s where the real transformation happens.
Here’s the thing: God isn’t waiting for you to get everything right before He starts using you. In fact, He often works through our messes, our brokenness, and our mistakes. We don’t need to have our lives all together. We just need to be willing to be open with God, to let Him work through us in the middle of our imperfections.
So, take a minute and think about where you’ve been. Maybe there’s a part of your story you’re ashamed of, or something you wish you could forget. But what if God is asking you to bring that very thing to Him? What if that’s the place where He wants to show His grace in the most powerful way?
Because the truth is, God doesn’t waste anything. He doesn’t waste our struggles, our flaws, or even our past mistakes. He takes all of that and turns it into something beautiful. Transformation isn’t about being perfect—it’s about being open. God’s grace is what makes the difference, and He’s ready to work in you, no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done.
So, if you’re sitting there thinking you’re too far gone, or your past is holding you back—trust me, it’s not. Grace is bigger than all of that. And when we’re willing to be real, God shows up in ways we never expected.
Grace in the grit, my friends—that’s where the transformation happens.
