The Power to Change – Greg Laurie Devotion – April 8, 2026

Biblical Context

The Book of Isaiah comes from a major prophet in Judah named Isaiah. He lived during a really tough time for God’s people, the eighth century BC. He saw a lot of political upset and spiritual decline, warning Judah about God’s judgment if they kept turning away from Him. But even with all the warnings, Isaiah also gave messages of amazing hope and restoration. This part of Isaiah, especially chapters 40-66, speaks a lot about comfort and future glory for Israel. It talks about God’s Servant, often seen as a picture of the Messiah, who would bring healing and new life. Isaiah 61, where our verses come from, paints a vivid picture of this future hope, describing how God will step in to completely change the situation for those who are suffering and broken, turning their sorrow into celebration and their ruined lives into something strong and beautiful.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “ashes.” In the Hebrew text, this is the word אֵפֶר (`epher`). This isn’t just a casual word for dirt. In ancient times, and even now, ashes are what’s left after destruction, after something has been burned up and is no longer useful. It’s a symbol of deep mourning, repentance, and utter ruin. People would often sit in ashes or put them on their heads to show great sadness and humility. When Isaiah says God will give a “crown of beauty for ashes,” it means God doesn’t just clean up the mess. He completely replaces the sign of ruin and grief with something glorious and royal. He takes what’s totally wasted and makes it valuable, even beautiful.

God’s Amazing Power to Change You

Because Jesus lives, you don’t have to stay stuck in your sin. When you follow Him, you aren’t a slave to sin anymore. That means you’re capable of an amazing transformation, one you might not even believe is possible.

I’ve been astounded by the stories I hear from people about how they used to be. Sometimes, I’ve looked at them and honestly thought, “There’s no way they used to be that way,” because Jesus Christ has changed them so completely. It’s a powerful thing to witness.

Isaiah 61:3–4 promises us that God “will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted for many generations” (nlt).

Think about that. For those who have really messed up their lives—you know, a pile of ashes, so to speak—God says, “I will bring beauty.” He doesn’t just patch things up; He creates something new and beautiful. And for those who mourn because of the people they’ve wronged and the sins they’ve committed, God says, “I will bring joy out of it.”

From Brokenness to Beauty

Only God can take a life that’s a tangled mess and transform it so completely that you wouldn’t even recognize the person it used to be. The Bible gives us some clear examples of this radical change.

Think of the demon-possessed man from the region of the Gerasenes. He met Jesus when He got out of the boat. Luke 8 says, “For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. . . . Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power” (verses 27, 29 nlt). This was a man completely lost, feared, and controlled by evil. But moments later, after Jesus cast out the demons, he was found “sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane” (verse 35 nlt). What an instant and dramatic change! You wouldn’t have thought it was the same person.

Then there’s the story of Saul. He was a zealous defender of the Jewish faith, but he terrorized the early Christians, even being present at the stoning of Stephen. He was determined to destroy the church. After a dramatic encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, he became the apostle Paul, arguably the most impactful missionary and writer in Christian history. He wasn’t just talking theory when he wrote, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 nlt). He spoke from his own experience of a life turned completely upside down, for God’s glory.

Your Life Can Be Transformed Too

Every such transformation gives hope to others who may still despair over the condition of their lives. It shows us that no matter how far gone you think you are, God can reach you.

If you come to Christ and say, “Lord, here I am, forgive me of my sin,” He can transform you and change you. He can take your mistakes and your sins, turn them around, and even use them for His glory. When you commit your life to Christ, putting the broken, stained, twisted pieces into His hand, He will transform it into a thing of beauty. You don’t have to stay in your ashes; God wants to give you a crown.