unknown to known
You’re not on the outside of God’s plan looking in. You're not tolerated. You're chosen. And your story—what you've been through—is not sidelined. It’s part of the divine mystery being revealed. We can be reminded that we are not outsiders of God's plan by being in a church community. Paul is celebrating what Christ is doing through His church, and we are invited to be an active member of a church community.
canceled to called
Even when you feel like your calling has been canceled, remember the words, “But God.” We do not have to earn our calling. We do not have to be afraid of being “canceled” by God because He has called us. He is calling us everyday to live with Him
abandoned to adopted
Losing your identity could look like a number of things. Maybe you feel like you have to say, “yes” to every request driven by other people’s ambitions. Maybe you think that you will never overcome your anxious thoughts. Maybe you feel unworthy because of a past mistake that has brought on continued consequences. A lost identity can make us disconnected from the body that we are occupying. However, your identity has never been lost because your identity was not your responsibility to establish. Rather, your identity is one that has been established by the Identity Giver. Your identity is not lost because the Identity Giver has found you (Matthew 18:22).
Broken to Blessed
Our purpose on earth is to receive God’s grace, peace and love because Jesus has declared us as Holy. We are able to stand confidently before God because of Jesus paying the price for our sins. Jesus died for our sins so that we could live with Jesus on earth and in Heaven. Since Jesus died for our sins, the grace of God has covered our wrongdoings. Our worst moments can stem from the consequences of our sins or someone’s sin that hurt us. However, our worst moments have no worth compared to Jesus’ grace that he has lavished on you. Your purpose did not begin because of your “good deeds.” Nor can you lose your purpose because of your sin. The Holy Spirit is with you, and He is reminding you that your security is found in Jesus. “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Eph. 1:13-14).