The Grace-Powered Turn: a New Start, Right Now

Six days into the New Year, and for many of us, those well-intentioned resolutions might already be wavering. Old habits creep back, and the hope for a truly different year begins to dim. We might feel that familiar despair, believing we lack the willpower to genuinely change, perhaps even wondering if God is tired of our struggles. But here’s the breathtaking truth that dismantles all fatalism: we don't have to wait another day, and our transformation isn't solely dependent on our own strength.

God's heart, revealed throughout scripture, is a passionate plea for our life, not our death. He cries out through the prophet, "Turn, turn from your evil ways; for why will you die?" This isn't a harsh, implacable judgment, but a loving invitation from a God who takes no pleasure in our destruction. Judgment is His "strange work," a painful necessity, never His delight. This "turning" is a complete U-turn, a kinetic reversal from death-dealing paths towards life, available right now .

This empowers us to overcome despair. When we feel inadequate or trapped in cycles of struggle, we remember that God is actively working within us. He provides the very capacity for authentic change, releasing us from the performance anxiety of striving in our own strength. True repentance isn't just regret; it's an empowered turn, a whole-life reorientation made possible by His grace. It’s a gift, inviting us to step into life’s radiant presence, right now, and truly live.