From Bad Chapters to New Beginnings: How God Rewrites Our Story

Have you ever felt like you've written some terrible chapters in your life? Maybe 2025 was filled with mistakes, poor decisions, or painful experiences that you'd rather forget. The story of Saul's transformation into the Apostle Paul shows us that God specializes in taking our worst moments and turning them into something beautiful.

What Does It Mean When We Have Bad Chapters in Life?

Saul was a man with some seriously bad chapters. Acts 8 tells us he was "going everywhere to destroy the church," dragging both men and women from their homes to throw them in prison. He was a religious Pharisee who thought he was doing good, but he was actually persecuting the very people God loved.

Yet in Acts 9, we see God's incredible mercy meet Saul on the road to Damascus. A bright light knocked him down, and Jesus himself spoke to him, asking "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

Our Worst Moments Don't Cancel God's Purpose

Here's the first powerful truth: our worst moments do not cancel God's purpose for our life. While everyone else saw Saul the persecutor, God saw Paul the apostle. Others might judge us based on our past, but God doesn't look at where we are - He looks at the finished product, our calling, and His purpose for us.

When Saul cried out "Lord, what do you want me to do?" he made a choice. That's what we must do every day - surrender our will to His and ask the same question.

Moving Forward Despite Hard Times

Even if this past year was difficult and mistakes were made, we can thank God and move forward with hope. Saul had his bad chapter 8, but he turned the page to chapter 9 and said "Lord, you write the rest."

Some of us might have had a difficult 2025, but we need to move on to our 2026. We don't want to enter the new year carrying bad attitudes, anxiety, addictions, or other burdens from the past.

Why Do We Need to Get Away With God?

After Paul's dramatic conversion experience, something interesting happened. Galatians 1:17 tells us that Paul "went to Arabia" for what appears to be two to three years. He didn't immediately rush into ministry - instead, he withdrew into God's presence.

Private Intimacy Before Public Impact

Paul understood that before public impact comes private intimacy. He needed to get away from the crowds and noise to truly know God - not just know about Him, but to know Him personally.

This teaches us that growth often happens away from distractions. We need our own "Arabia" - a place and time where we can be alone with God daily. This should be the number one priority on our calendars.

How We're Transformed in His Presence

When we spend time in places of intimacy with God, we are transformed. We become like the one we associate with. The more time we spend with Him, the more we're changed from glory to glory into His image.

Time alone with God helps reshape our character and even our desires. As we behold Him, we develop the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

How Does God Know Us Before We Know Ourselves?

Psalm 139 reveals an incredible truth about how God sees us. Before our mistakes, before our bad chapters, God's plan for us already existed. He formed us in our mother's womb and wrote all our days in His book before any of them came to be.

We Are the Object of His Desire

God has a passion for relationship with us. We don't have to strive to be seen because we are already known. He knows every hair on our head and cares about every detail of our lives.

This means we can rest in the knowledge that we're not here by accident. God has a purpose and destiny for each of us, just like He did for Paul.

What Happens When We Give God the Pen of Our Lives?

Hebrews 12:2 calls Jesus "the author and finisher of our faith." If we've been writing bad chapters, it's time to give Him the pen and let Him write our story.

Chapters of Love

When God writes our story, it often begins with chapters of love. Matthew 22 commands us to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. No matter what anyone else does or what comes against us, we can choose to love.

Chapters of Sacrifice

Luke 9:23 reminds us that following Christ involves taking up our cross daily. The cross we bear often leads us to places of sacrifice, but our time in "Arabia" with God prepares us for this public obedience.

A life surrendered to Him can be beautifully written by Him, even when it's difficult. As Paul said, "I die daily" - meaning he continually surrendered his will for God's will.

Chapters of Blessing

Much of our provision for the journey is found along the path of surrender to Him. Matthew 6:33 promises that when we seek first God's kingdom and righteousness, everything else will be added to us.

God has blessings, purpose, and destiny waiting for us. Sometimes our struggles are so intense because the enemy knows what God has planned and wants to hinder it.

Life Application

As we step into 2026, it's time to leave the bad chapters of 2025 behind and let God write new ones. This week, commit to establishing a daily "Arabia" time with God - a consistent, private time where you can grow in intimacy with Him.

Start each day by asking the same question Paul asked: "Lord, what do you want me to do?" Give Him the pen of your life and trust Him to write chapters of love, sacrifice, and blessing.

Questions for Reflection:

• What bad chapters from this past year do you need to leave behind?

• When and where will you establish your daily "Arabia" time with God?

• In what areas of your life do you need to ask "Lord, what do you want me to do?" and surrender control to Him?

• How can you begin writing chapters of love in your relationships this week?

Remember, God sees your potential, not just your past. He's ready to remove the scales from your eyes and reveal the purpose He's had for you all along. The question is: will you give Him the pen?