Making Something Out of Nothing – Greg Laurie Devotion – April 4, 2026

Biblical Context

The book of Isaiah stands as a powerful message from God to His people. Isaiah, a prophet who served during the reigns of several kings in Judah (Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, roughly 740-680 BC), lived during a time of great political unrest and spiritual decline. He spoke out against the sins of Judah, warning them of coming judgment, but also continually pointed to God’s mercy and His future plans for redemption and restoration.

Chapter 64, where our guiding verse comes from, is a heartfelt prayer. It’s a cry from the people of Israel who feel distant from God, acknowledging their sins and desperate for Him to show up and act on their behalf. They’re remembering God’s mighty deeds from the past and asking Him to do something incredible again. It’s a prayer that shows a mixture of deep sorrow over their own failures and a strong hope in God’s character—that He’s a God who can deliver and change things, even when all seems lost. This prayer expresses a real craving for God’s visible presence and powerful help.

Key Word Study

Let’s look closely at a key word from Isaiah 64:4: “works.” The verse says, “who works for those who wait for him!”

The Hebrew word for “works” here is `עָשָׂה` (pronounced *asah*). This is a very common and practical word in the Old Testament, but it carries a lot of weight. `Asah` means to make, to do, to create, to accomplish, to act, or to prepare. It’s not about just thinking about something; it’s about active, intentional involvement.

When the prophet Isaiah says God “works,” it means He doesn’t just observe or consider; He actively intervenes, performs deeds, and brings things into being. He’s not a distant God; He’s a God who gets involved, who creates, and who brings about specific outcomes with power and purpose. This isn’t just passive activity; it speaks to God’s creative ability and His powerful involvement in history and in the personal lives of those who trust in Him. He doesn’t just try to do things; He makes them happen.

Peter’s Rough Night and God’s Long View

Jesus’ retreat to the Garden of Gethsemane began a bad stretch of time for the apostle Peter. First, he fell asleep on his watch after Jesus asked him to stay alert. We’ve all been there, right? Wanting to do what’s right, but failing.

Second, according to John 18:10, when Jesus’ enemies came to arrest Him, “Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave” (nlt). It was a moment of impetuous, misguided zeal, trying to protect Jesus in his own strength.

And then, later that same night, when he was recognized as one of Jesus’ followers, Peter denied even knowing Jesus—not once, not twice, but three times. Imagine the weight of that failure, the shame, the sense of letting down the one he loved and followed. You can feel the struggle he went through.

Can you identify with a guy like that? I know that it’s sometimes hard to imagine what God is up to in your life. You look at your past, your mistakes, your present struggles, and it’s tough to see the good. You might think, ‘What can God really do with me?’

You see a blank canvas, unsure of what will come of it, but God sees a finished painting, already complete in His mind. You see a piece of coal, something ordinary, but God sees a refined diamond, shining bright and full of value. You see an untalented person, maybe even someone who feels like a failure, but God sees a mighty man or woman of God, ready for His purpose. He sees what you can become.

God Sees Beyond Your Starting Point

This is also true of those we see in Scripture. We often focus on their weaknesses, but God always looked beyond that to what He could do through them.

We see an impetuous, impulsive Simon, prone to quick action and even quicker denial, but God sees a strong, decisive apostle named Peter, a rock on which the early church would stand.

We see a conniving, manipulative Jacob, someone who tricked his brother and father, but God sees a godly, trusting man named Israel, the father of a nation, who wrestled with God and won a new identity.

We see a young, naïve Joseph, a favored son thrown into a pit and sold into slavery, but the Lord sees a brilliant, wise world leader, who would save countless lives, including his own family.

And when it was all said and done, Joseph was able to look back and say to his brothers, “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20 nkjv). He recognized that God used what happened to him to mold him into a compassionate, forgiving leader of many. He was clay in the Potter’s hands, letting God shape him. He trusted in the Lord, even when things looked bad.

You’re a Work in Progress

God specializes in making something out of nothing. He takes what seems like a mess and turns it into a masterpiece. He takes what looks like a dead end and makes a new path. I wonder what He’s doing with you right now. You’re a work in progress, and He isn’t finished yet.

If you’re still alive and reading this, God has more work to do in your life! He’s got plans for you, and He’s actively shaping you. Most artists don’t like someone looking over their shoulders, trying to second-guess what they’re about to do. They’ll often say, “Wait until I’m done, and then you’ll see.”

It’s the same with God. He’s the ultimate Artist, and He’s working on you. So, trust in the Lord during those times when it’s hard to see what He’s doing. Don’t allow the hardships you face to make you a bitter person. It’s time to let go of that anger or sadness over what happened. Rather, allow them to make you a better person, shaped by God’s hand.

God’s Unseen Work for Those Who Wait

Isaiah 64:4 tells us, “For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him!” (nlt). This promise is for you. It means God is actively at work, even when you can’t see it, doing things beyond what you can imagine, for those who patiently trust Him.

That night in Gethsemane was hardly the end of Peter’s story. Despite his epic failures and denials, Jesus didn’t give up on him. After Jesus rose from the grave and ascended back to Heaven, Peter didn’t just fade away. He became one of the key leaders of the early Christian church, boldly proclaiming the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and beyond. His weakness turned into strength, his fear into courage. God truly made something amazing out of his messy beginnings.

No matter what your past is like—no matter the mistakes you’ve made, the failures you’ve experienced, or the doubts you carry—and no matter where you are in your Christian journey, God has something important planned for you. He’s not done with you yet. He sees the diamond, the finished painting, the mighty man or woman of God that you’re becoming.

Reflection question: What evidence do you see in your life of God’s ability to make you a better person? Take a moment to think about how He’s already shown up for you.