Transform
Life is full of transitions. Some come with joy—graduations, new beginnings, fresh opportunities. Others come with uncertainty—loss, unexpected detours, or seasons of waiting. Regardless of the type, one truth remains: God doesn’t waste transitions. In fact, many of our greatest spiritual breakthroughs happen in the in-between places. In Romans 12:2, the apostle Paul gives a charge that speaks directly to us in those moments:
“Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2, CSB)
This isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a call to embrace the uncomfortable process of transformation. The word Paul uses for “transformed” is the Greek word metamorphoō, the root of our English word metamorphosis. It suggests a total change, much like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. God’s goal isn’t to slightly improve us—it’s to radically reshape us to reflect the image of Christ. And He often uses personal transitions—moments of growth, failure, calling, or grief—to do just that.
Paul knew the Christians in Rome were under constant pressure to blend in and adopt the dominant culture's habits, values, and mental frameworks. He called them instead to non-conformity and a radical internal transformation by God's Spirit.
In both ancient Rome and modern America, believers are called to resist cultural pressure and pursue a mind constantly renewed by the Word of God and the work of the Spirit. This is not a one-time change—it’s a daily process of unlearning the world’s values and embracing Christ’s way.
So, ask yourself today:
What values have I absorbed from the world without realizing it?
Is my thinking shaped more by social media or Scripture?
Am I blending in, or am I being transformed?
Scripture gives us powerful examples. Peter, after denying Jesus three times, was lovingly restored in John 21: “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said to him (John 21:17, CSB). In that moment, Peter was not discarded—he was recommissioned. His failure became a launching pad for leadership. Paul, once a persecutor of the church, was stopped in his tracks on the road to Damascus and forever changed by an encounter with Christ (Acts 9:1–19). Ruth, widowed and far from home, clung to God and walked into a story of redemption that would place her in the lineage of Christ (Ruth 4:14–17).
We also see this image in Isaiah 64:8, where the prophet says,
“Yet Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we all are the work of your hands.”(CSB)
Like clay in the hands of the potter, we are being shaped—sometimes pressed, sometimes stretched, but always with purpose. Transitions may feel like setbacks, but when surrendered to God, they become part of His masterpiece of grace.
This coming Sunday, we will honor our high school graduates—young men and women entering a significant season of personal transition. To our graduates: You are being shaped for something greater. This is not just a life stage—it's a spiritual formation. God is not finished with you; in fact, He is just beginning to unfold the purpose for which you were created.
As a church family, let’s embrace every transition not with fear, but with faith. Whether you're facing a new calling, recovering from a loss, or simply stepping into the unknown, trust that God's hand is at work. His will is not just acceptable—it is good, pleasing, and perfect.
You are not being undone—you are being transformed for His purpose.