Transform - make a thorough or dramatic change in the form, appearance, or character of...
Yesterday I set about to close my porch. This time of year I find myself rather melancholy. Closing my porch is especially hard. It's my quiet place. A place that gives me a great deal of peace and calm, an escape.....a place with lots of light, a cool breeze....quiet, oh so much quiet.
Even when my beloved was alive it was a place that I often escaped to while he chose the lake. This year it pinches just a bit more. My space has been transformed after 40 years. It's very, very different. It has been reimagined. It has become a place I have shared with others instead of it being simply an escape for me.
As I cleaned, packed and stored I fondly remembered amazing conversations, beautiful fellowship and God glorifying love that took place in that space. As I packed away the seashells, the table runners and my flamingo I couldn't help but think of the many months ahead until I unpack it all again. This last year has seen an entire transformation of my home but I will really miss my outdoor space.
The leaves are gone, the rain is cold and the winds are bone chilling. Even the weather is transforming, dramatically, before my very eyes. Really got me thinking about that word -- transform.
God has been transforming me into the likeness of Christ since the day I accepted him as Lord and Savior.....over 30 years ago now.
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
2 Corinthians 3:18
There have been many, many times that transformation has brought me great joy. The first time I witnessed one of my grandchildren's births I was different from that day forward. Of course I watched my own three children come into the world but, honestly, I thought then of how my beloved and me had created such an exquisite human being. This time was different. I knew Jesus and I knew my sweet granddaughter was his creation. There's a difference. No, it doesn't diminish the joy I felt at the birth of my own children, ever, but I did not know the joy of praising God for such amazing provision. Transformation through joys, or those A-HA moments is incredible. If I had a choice, I'd choose it that way every time.
"Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
Romans 8:17
In this earthly life, most adults know that life is full of ups and downs, good and bad, pretty and ugly. Just turn on your TV or browse the internet and you'll see goodness that tugs at your heart strings and bring tears to your eyes and you'll see evil that is beyond your ability to comprehend. I think we can all agree that we learn and are changed from the good times but also by hardship and sorrow.
"He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."
Isaiah 53:3-4, 7
Jesus was a gentle, kind, compassionate, loving man though he wasn't a pushover, afraid of confrontation or afraid of speaking truth. He spoke truth in love. He didn't argue...in fact, even through suffering "he did not open his mouth". I cannot think of anyone I'd rather be like than Jesus.
That means a lifetime of transformation and........... it means suffering.
Before my beloved was taken I used to pray everyday, "Draw me closer to you Lord". So often when we pray we don't actually realize what exactly we are praying for. For example, if you pray for patience as I once did, you'll realize that God doesn't just give you an extra helping of patience. NO! He places you in circumstances that require MORE patience!
When I prayed for God to draw me closer to him I had no idea how he would actually do it. I'm not saying he allowed my husband's death for that purpose I'm saying I now realize what a BOLD prayer that really was. It was a prayer for transformation. I have a friend that prays for God to "transform her (into Jesus' likeness) no matter what it takes." That's bold!
Though my transformation began 30 years ago, these last six have been such transforming years that at times I hardly recognize myself. Great suffering has been part of that transformation. I know a bit more about the building of my character through perseverance. And I know a bit more about peace through faith.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
Romans 5:1-5
I'm pretty certain if I talked to 100 Christ followers a very high percentage would say they would prefer not to suffer. I'm also fairly certain that those that have suffered would say that they are different and they are definitely closer to God through that suffering. I know I am for sure. I keep thinking, if I didn't know Christ as Savior, than all the suffering would be for nothing. I can't imagine suffering that has no outcome other than having suffered.
Transformation is hard but it's profitable. If you know Jesus as Lord and Savior you are highly likely to be experiencing transformation through really hard circumstances. It is part of the journey but the reward? Eternal life!! This world is temporary!!
"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
SO........
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4
God, I don't know all the answers. I'm not sure I want to. Actually, I'm sure I don't. The comfort I find in your Word is more than I could ask or imagine and so very necessary in a world where so many things don't make sense. Transformation is hard. Thank you that you are honing me to be like your Son. Thank you that this world isn't all there is. Thank you that suffering has purpose even when I don't like it or understand it. Thank you that I experience your goodness even in the midst of great sorrow. God, you call me to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer. Lord, let it be as you say.