Feeling less-than or hopeless? Let’s talk about how God transforms nothing much into something incredible, what we lack into something beyond what we can even imagine.
Rejection burns. Loss aches. The worst case scenario happens. The news isn’t welcome.
You’re out of options, out of time, out of patience, out of funds, out of luck.
Not good enough is the mantra that goes through your mind.
Maybe it’s out there on display for the whole world. Or maybe it’s a heartache no one else can see.
When was the last time you hit rock bottom?
I remember the day, a little over a year ago, where I was screaming out to God and my steering wheel. A string of bad news left me feeling powerless and defeated. His response to me? “I do my best work with nothing.” It’s something he put on my heart that I keep going back to.
Since then? A pandemic, uncertainty, schools shut down, loneliness, what has felt like a million “no’s” and rejections, the call to stare down my privilege and ignorance, and disappointments.
The other day I came upon this description of God in Romans 4:17 (NIV) again: “the God…who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.”
This is as striking to me now as the first day I read it. “Not,” I’m familiar with. Many moments of “not”. Not the prettiest, smartest, or most popular. Often not the chosen candidate. Not getting the answers I hoped to hear. Usually not the one with the right words in the moment. Not the one with the most confidence or the rock-solid plan or the ideas.
How can God possibly work with us in our lack?
Because the God who created us and the world and everything in it – he is not confined to the limits we are. That means that no matter how low we sink, he is still capable, still all-powerful, still working to turn things around for our good.
There’s no rock bottom that is too low for God. There’s no such thing as hopeless with him.
Time after time, the Bible talks about transformation – fully changing the most hopeless and desperate of situations into something remarkable. God transforms nothing much into something incredible, literally.
How God transforms nothing to something – Scriptures about transformation in the Bible
Think God can’t work miracles in your life? Here are clear pictures of what our God can do:
Genesis 1:2, Job 38 – He designed and measured and created our world out of water and darkness and empty earth.
Genesis 2:7 – He made man out of dust.
2 Kings 4:1-7 – He fills what is empty and provides money where there is none.
Isaiah 41:17-20 – He turns wastelands into groves of trees and puts pools of water and streams in deserts.
Isaiah 43:18-19 – He’s in the business of doing new things: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (NIV)
Ezekiel 37:1-14 – He turns dry bones into an army.
John 2:1-11 – He turns water to wine.
2 Kings 4:8-37; Mark 5:35-43; John 11:38-44; John 20 – He brings the dead to life.
How God transforms nothing to something – How does God transform us?
Isaiah 61:1-3, 7 – He gives beauty for ashes and joy for mourning. He gives us portions and inheritance for our shame and disgrace.
Romans 3:23-24 – He forgives the fallen (all of us).
Romans 6:5-10 – He brings us from death to life, from slaves to sin to free in Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:20-25 – He makes the wisdom of the world foolishness and fools wise.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – He transforms us into his image.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – He makes us into new creations in Christ.
Philippians 3:21 – He will someday transform our earthly bodies into heavenly ones.
All that said – don’t give up.
Don’t discount or discredit God’s ability or his goodness.
He will come through for you, in ways you can’t even imagine yet. And you’ll have a transformation story of your own to tell.
To go with this topic, I have to suggest listening to the wonderful song, “Graves into Gardens” by Brandon Lake and Elevation Worship.
How about you? How have you seen God make incredible transformations in your life?
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Photo Credit:
1 – Katerina Kerdi on Unsplash
2 – Michael Louie on Unsplash
3 – Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
In this pandemic, I had also lost my job and I was unable to handle the rejection in interviews. It was really hard for me to get over it.
Nice to hear your views .. We always blame GOD while struggling with something… I have also learnt in the past two years that tomorrow will be better than today.
Thanks for sharing!
I’m so sorry to hear that. It has been a ridiculously challenging couple of years. Grateful God goes with us through it, and accepts us even when we are rejected by others. Hang in there, Ely!