Not Who I Used to Be

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” - 2 Corinthians 5:17

Every follower of Jesus has a story. Some stories look dramatic, with visible changes that everyone notices right away. Other stories unfold slowly as God reshapes habits, desires, and attitudes over time. No matter how the transformation begins, the result always points to the same truth. When someone truly encounters Jesus, something shifts. You do not stay who you were. You begin to walk, talk, think, and live in ways that reflect the change happening inside you.

Scripture is full of examples of people whose lives were turned upside down after meeting Jesus. A fisherman became a bold preacher. A tax collector walked away from greed. A woman caught in shame found dignity. A man controlled by darkness was restored to his right mind. None of these shifts came from self-improvement. They came from the power of a Savior who changes people from the inside out. The transformation was so real that others could not help but notice.

That same work continues today. You may not feel like a completely different person every moment, but God is shaping you more than you realize. The words that used to spill out without thought now give you pause. Choices you once made without conviction now feel heavy. Desires that used to rule your life slowly lose their pull. These are not small things. They are signs that Jesus is forming something new within you. Transformation becomes visible not because you force it but because He produces it.

Some people around you may still remember who you used to be. They may expect the old reactions or the old patterns. Do not let their memory define your identity. God sees who you are becoming, not who you were. Your past may explain you, but it no longer defines you. Every step of obedience, every moment of surrender, and every fresh desire for righteousness reveals the ongoing work of Christ inside you.

If you ever wonder whether God is changing you, look back for a moment. Notice the things that no longer hold you. Notice the growth that once felt impossible. Notice the peace that has slowly taken root where fear used to live. You are not who you used to be. Jesus is writing a new story in your life, and the evidence of that story is growing more visible every day.