Turning It Around: Choosing Humility and God’s Power
In the summer of 1986, two ships collided in the Black Sea off the coast of Russia. Hundreds of passengers lost their lives in the icy waters. The tragedy became even more heartbreaking when the investigation revealed the cause. It wasn’t fog, radar failure, or faulty equipment. It was pride.
Each captain saw the other ship. Each could have turned. But neither wanted to yield first. By the time they realized the danger, it was too late. Almost 400 lives were lost because two people refused to humble themselves.
That story is dramatic, but it’s not too far from what many of us experience in our spiritual lives. Deep down, we know we need to make a change. We sense God nudging us in a new direction. We want to turn around. But pride whispers: Don’t admit you were wrong. Don’t humble yourself. Don’t yield.
The Bible has a word for turning around: repentance.
Repentance is more than saying sorry. It’s realizing the road I’ve been on is the wrong one, humbling myself before God, and choosing to walk in a new direction. And while that sounds simple, our pride makes it incredibly difficult.
The good news? God gives us a clean slate. Through Jesus, every day can be a new beginning.
A Daily Process of Becoming Like Jesus
Sanctification—that’s the theological word for it. It means the lifelong process of becoming more like Christ. None of us are finished yet. Paul reminded us in Philippians 1:6:
“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
We are always in process—putting off the old self and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22–24). You can’t just pile the “new” over the “old.” The old still seeps through. You must lay it down, repent, and embrace the new life Jesus offers.
So how do we do that? How do we actually turn it around?
Here are five steps for walking a new path with Christ:
1. Think Progress, Not Perfection
Many of us quit before we even start because we think: If I can’t do it perfectly, why bother?
But Paul admitted in Philippians 3:12:
“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on…”
We can’t change yesterday. We can’t control tomorrow. But we can press on today.
Following Jesus is a daily journey—one bite at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time.
2. Think Future, Not Past
Some of us want to move forward, but we feel chained to the past—either by what others did to us or what we’ve done ourselves.
But Romans 8:1 reminds us:
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
You can’t undo the past, but you don’t have to live there either. God’s grace calls you forward. Don’t be a victim of yesterday—choose to step into the future God has prepared for you.
3. Think Connection, Not Production
Jesus said in John 15:5:
“I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.”
We often get this backwards. We think, If I work hard enough and produce enough fruit, maybe then Jesus will accept me.
But the truth is flipped: When we stay connected to Jesus, the fruit naturally grows.
You don’t need a self-help plan. You need a Savior. Joy, peace, love—all of it flows from abiding in Him.
4. Think Training, Not Trying
The Christian life isn’t about trying harder. It’s about training. Paul compares it to running a race in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25. Athletes don’t stumble into winning—they train for it.
For us, training looks like prayer, Scripture, worship, and community. Those practices don’t earn us God’s love—they position us to receive His transforming power.
5. Think God’s Power, Not Willpower
At the end of the day, change doesn’t come from sheer willpower. It comes from God’s power at work within us.
Ephesians 1:19–20 reminds us that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today. 2 Peter 1:3 adds:
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
That means you don’t have to fight this battle alone. God’s resurrection power is already at work in your life.
The Invitation to Turn Around
The captains on the Black Sea waited too long to yield. But you don’t have to.
Today can be the day you turn around. Not in your strength, but in God’s. Not in pride, but in humility.
Take one step toward Him. Press on. Abide in Jesus. Train in His ways. Trust His power.
And watch how He turns your life around.
