Our Transformation Story

I love home improvement shows. There’s something so satisfying about seeing how an old, rundown, seemingly doomed house can be turned into a warm, inviting, beautiful home. I enjoy watching the work get done; seeing the blueprints get laid out, the old cabinets getting ripped out, and sometimes even walls getting knocked down. But my favorite part is always at the very end when we get to see the before-and after-comparison. Sometimes, the differences are so extreme, that if I hadn’t watched the transformation from start to finish, I would have a hard time believing that it’s the same home!

One of my favorite transformation stories in the Bible takes place in John 9. Jesus and His disciples came across a man who had been blind from birth. Jesus makes mud out of dirt and spit and then spreads it over the blind man’s eyes, telling him to go wash in the pool of Siloam.

So the man went and washed and came back seeing! His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said he was and others said, “No, he just looks like him!” But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!” (John 9:7-9 NLT)

This man was transformed in such a way, that those who knew him couldn’t believe he was the same person. Talk about a total renovation! We too can experience this transformation when we encounter Christ. Not only can Jesus heal us physically, like He did for the blind man, but He can also heal us spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. He doesn’t just make us a better version of ourselves. He transforms us completely!

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When we surrender ourselves in obedience to Jesus, we become more like Him (Colossians 3:10). Bitterness can be transformed into love, despair into joy, worry into peace, restlessness into patience, cruelty into kindness, harshness into gentleness, and overindulgence into self-control. We might become unrecognizable to those around us—in a good way!

Jesus says this to His disciples in John 9:3 about the beggar’s blindness:

“It was not because of his sins or his parent’s sins ... . This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.”

When we surrender our burdens to Jesus, when we lay our bitterness, despair, worry, or restlessness at His feet, the transformation that then takes place is not only for us but also so the power of God can be seen in us! We become a living, breathing, testimony of the goodness of God. We can all have a transformation story as powerful as the blind beggar’s and better than any home improvement show.

Father God, we thank You that You are the God of healing and transformation. We pray that our relationship with You will make us more like Jesus and that the fruit of Your Spirit will be evident in our lives. Please empower us to testify of Your goodness and the miracles You have done in our life.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. (Psalm 107:1-2)

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Scripture is quoted from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.