I took this picture on a beach in Florida. There were yards of these amazing sand formations that took shape over time from the water and wind (I presume!). The intricate and perfectly formed detail reminds me of God’s hand as He works on the rough edges of our lives through each moment – painful and joyful. Nothing is wasted. All is for our good and His glory. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Eccl. 3:11

They say “Don’t look back, you’re not going that way”, which is true, but if there are no markers from your past to indicate who you were to who you are now, how else will you gauge progress and growth?

These sand formations likely started as an unformed, even a rough-looking pile of sand, but look at how they’ve been crafted into such smooth, detailed surfaces by a Master Artist.

You and I are the same. Our God is in the business of transformation.

There’s a feature in Facebook called “On This Day” and it shows you what your posts were from this date on several years in the past. Many of my posts are fun memories that bring smiles, while some look markedly different before Christ had a life-changing impact on my heart.  Though the words I wrote make me cringe, these self-centered examples can be regular reminders that God is faithful and He is helping us walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4) as our old self is done away with (Romans 6:6).  I thank Him each time I read something I wrote that I would never feel compelled to write today.

I don’t think we’re meant to just look back at the end of life and hopefully see we had some growth and progress, but we can be encouraged along the way by reflecting on where we’ve come from and giving God glory for the work He’s accomplished in us so far.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Do you have a “that was then, this is now” life snapshot in your mind?  If life all seems to blend, I’d encourage you to examine your heart, examine your life, and pray as David did in Psalm 26:2, “Examine me, O LORD, and try me; test my mind and my heart” and open yourself up to the Master Artist’s work in your life, that you may soon reflect joyfully on milestones where your words and your actions now more closely resemble His than your own.