7 Characteristics of a Transformed Life
Are you searching for evidence that God is working in your life? Today, we’ll look at 7 characteristics of a transformed life.
I invite you to join me as God transformed me through a challenging situation. Then, we’ll take a closer look at what it means to be transformed by God. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God and be transformed.
7 Characteristics of a Transformed Life
The clock reads half-past two, and the moon hangs high in the inky black of a December night. I’m lost in deep sleep, and I have no idea that I’m about to be transformed by God through the encounter that unfolds.
At first, I’m not sure what stirred me from sleep. It takes just a moment before the source of my awakening is clear.
“Mom! I’m sick!” a little boy’s voice calls from across the hallway.
Rushing to his side, I soon realize that this will not be a restful night.
Transformed by God in Ordinary Moments
Ten minutes later, a huge load of bedding is sloshing in the washing machine, the little boy is fully bathed, and entire rooms have been doused with cleaning solution.
I lie wide-eyed in my bed—listening for so much as a cough from the other room.
Forty minutes later, I have yet to find sleep when I hear him moaning in his bed again. I dash to his side and comfort him.
We repeat this cycle no less than a dozen times throughout the night. My body refuses to rest, and his stomach refuses to settle.
At 5:30 a.m., I utter a prayer that goes something like this, “Father, I am exhausted. I’m worried. I’m desperate for your grace.”
The Name That Transforms Us
Within minutes, the little boy is sick again, and I rush to his side with bleary eyes and a pounding head. As I hold him, I speak the name, “Jesus.”
I put my hand on his blonde hair as I say it: “Jesus.”
Angels don’t descend into the room, and little Aiden doesn’t suddenly recover. However, as I speak the Name, something seems to shift. It’s a shift in the spiritual atmosphere of the room and a shift in my soul.
Jesus is Immanuel, God With Us.
He is with our little boy in his sickness, and he’s with this exhausted mother.
For the first time all night, I breathe deeply. I know that we are held. In this moment, something in me shifts. By speaking the name of Jesus, I have been transformed by God. He has led me into peace.
Returning to my bed, I consider the gift we find in Immanuel—God with Us.
I remember words I wrote years ago:
Have you ever reached the end of your rope and wondered where to turn next? By the grace of God, when we reach our breaking points, we often find God’s open arms beneath us, waiting to catch us. Sometimes, it takes coming to the end of our strength to encounter the One whose strength is always sufficient.
Sometimes, it takes coming to the end of our strength to encounter the One whose strength is always sufficient. #GodsGrace #grace #TrustingGod Share on X7 Characteristics of a Transformed Life
Maybe it took reaching this breaking point to prepare my heart to celebrate the gift of this Christmas season. The world is adorned with colorful lights as we all give glory to the Incarnate King. Meanwhile, how often do we slow down to embrace the striking reality that the King of Kings bent low to live among us?
He is Immanuel, and he is still here among us.
He is here beside the sickbeds and hospital beds.
Immanuel is with us in our worries, disappointments, and uncertainties. He will never leave us. Every time we remind ourselves of this truth, we are transformed by God from the inside out.
Every time we ask God to help us become more aware of his presence, we set ourselves up to be transformed by God.
Today, let’s thank the Lord that he is among us.
7 Characteristics of a Transformed Life
Learning to turn toward Jesus in our troubled moments is one characteristics of a transformed life. Let’s explore an additional 7 characteristics of a transformed life.
1. We trust God in the valley of suffering.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us that God is close to the brokenhearted.
It’s easy to buy the lie that God has abandoned us during long seasons of suffering; however, if we keep our hearts soft, some of the most profound encounters with God often happen in the valley of suffering.
2. We embrace weakness as the platform for God to move in power.
In our weakness, God makes his power known (see 2 Cor. 12:9-10).
The one who has been transformed by God understands that weakness is always the starting point for God to work.
3. We view adversity as an opportunity for growth.
My darkest seasons in life have also been the seasons of greatest growth. I’ve learned to see difficulties as opportunities for growth.
God uses adversity to shape us and transform us into the image of his Son. When we learn to embrace this humbling work, we are transformed by God.
4. We welcome God’s divine interruptions to our plans.
Broken appliances, flat tires, sick children, and family emergencies often feel like detours. Meanwhile, God’s assignments are hidden within these unexpected circumstances.
As Henri Nouwen once suggested, interruptions often feel like they hinder my work; more accurately, the interruptions are my work.
Learning to stay calm and embrace life’s interruptions is a sure sign of transformation into the image of Christ.
5. We view fear as a prompt that sends us closer to God.
Nothing leads me to take my eyes off Christ like a battle with fear.
Sadly, when I let fear become my focus, I worship my fear. Fear dominates my thoughts and preoccupies my mind.
We cannot worship God while worshiping our fears.
Meanwhile, when we learn to view fear, worry, and anxiety as reminders to turn toward Jesus for help, these emotions become vessels of grace. They lead us straight to the One who will never leave us.
6. We endure trails with patience.
We are developing spiritually when we learn to endure instead of giving up when life is tough.
The one who can endure struggles with patience is becoming more like Jesus.
7. We lovingly put the needs of others first.
We are born with the strong desire to preserve ourselves at all costs.
As we grow closer to Christ, he transforms us into people who put the needs of others first.
Calling All Parents and Grandparents!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
A Devotional for Boys
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. 
