Thoughts on Redemption and New Beginnings
Have you ever had one of those moments where you look back and think, “What was I even doing?” I sure have. Times I’ve said something I shouldn’t have. Times I let pride or fear steer the wheel. And then shame creeps in, that voice that whispers, “You’ve gone too far this time. There’s no coming back from this.”
But here’s the thing—I’ve seen God do some of His best work with people at rock bottom.
There’s this wild story in the Bible about a guy named Saul. He wasn’t just making poor choices—he was actively tearing down everything Jesus had built. The guy was literally hunting down Christians. But God didn’t cancel him. He met him on a dusty road in the middle of his mess and said, “I’m not done with you yet.”
And that moment changed everything.
Now, I know most of us haven’t done anything as extreme as Saul, but the point still stands:
If God can redeem a story like that,
He can absolutely redeem yours and mine.
I think we often underestimate what God can do with our worst chapters. We assume they disqualify us. But what if they’re actually the place where His grace shines the brightest?
Bonhoeffer said something that sticks with me: “Being a Christian is less about cautiously avoiding sin than about courageously and actively doing God’s will.” That sounds a lot like redemption to me—not just being forgiven but being repurposed. God doesn’t just erase the past; He recycles it into something meaningful.
Maybe you’re in a season where your past feels heavy. Maybe you’ve made mistakes that still sting, or you're in the middle of something you never imagined you'd be facing. Let me just say: God isn’t waiting for you to get your act together before He moves toward you. He meets you right where you are.
And here's the beautiful twist: the same Saul became Paul—one of the most powerful voices of hope, grace, and transformation. Not because he had a perfect story, but because he let God redeem it.
William Willimon put it like this: “Christ creates new people and builds a new community.” That includes you. And me. Not despite our messes, but often through them.
So, if you’ve been wondering if it’s too late or if God can really bring something good out of your story—I hope this reminds you: He absolutely can. He’s been doing it for a long time. And He’s not stopping anytime soon.
Your worst moment doesn’t have to be the end. It might just be the place where grace breaks in and everything starts to change.
