Raise your hand if you ever created frothy foam with vinegar and baking soda.
OK, hands down. Now, who can name five other common chemical reactions?
M-m-m. Not as many hands. To be honest, I couldn’t have named that many either. But a bit of research turned up these:
- Plants turn sunlight into energy for growth—photosynthesis
- Yeast causes bread dough to rise
- Bacteria in old milk transforms the lactose into lactic acid, creating that sour odor
- Combustion causes wood to burn; burnt wood becomes ash
- In a wet or humid environment, iron and steel will develop rust
And just as marvelous turnings occur in the physical world, God initiates and fosters marvelous turnings in our lives—with spectacular results.
For example:
God’s love turns mistakes into miracles. Joseph’s brothers made a terrible mistake, selling their brother into Egyptian slavery and lying about it. They still carried the guilt two decades later, when the brothers traveled to Egypt for grain during a famine.
Little did they know that Joseph had risen from slave to prime minister, was overseeing the distribution of grain, and saving thousands of lives. What the brothers intended for harm, God turned to miraculous good (1).
God’s power turns weaklings into warriors. Gideon felt powerless against Israel’s enemy, the mighty Midianites. He required much reassurance from God to go into battle against them. But with God’s encouragement and enablement, Gideon led his small army to a rousing victory (2).
God’s grace turns devastation into distinction. Saul was a broken man, blind and no doubt confused when Ananias visited him that day in Damascus. But it wasn’t long before he was traveling the region, preaching passionate sermons, and drawing hundreds of people to Jesus (3).
In addition to his love, power, and grace, our Heavenly Father provides ways for us to turn negatives into positives, and dull into delightful.
For example:
Proper perspective turns irritation into exaltation.
“We can learn to overlook the trivial and fix our gaze on the eternal. What is an offense compared to [God’s] love? What is a rejection compared to His unconditional acceptance? What is a momentary trial compared to an eternity with Him” (4)?
Wonder turns weariness to WOW!
“Even in the familiar there can be surprise and wonder” (5).
Are you feeling a bit of reverent WOW right now?
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough” (6).
“The bedrock of our contentment isn’t the goodness of our day but the goodness of our God” (7).
Trusting in God turns uncertainty into adventure.
We can lament, “I don’t know how I’m going to get through this,” or we can pray, “Lord, I can’t wait to see how you do this” (8)!
Hope turns apprehension into expectation.
What’s more worthwhile: worrying about what can go wrong or being excited about what can go right, since God is always at work?
Prayer turns anxiety into peace.
“Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus” (9).
Worship turns turmoil into calm.
“We would worry less if we praised more” (10).
The question becomes: Will we choose those actions that turn negatives into positives and dull into delightful? Or will we live under a dark cloud of malaise, apprehension, and turmoil?
God has shown us the way to the former; he leaves the turnings to us.
Notes:
- Genesis 37-50
- Judges 6-7
- Acts 9-28
- Emmanuelle Gomez
- Tierney Gearon
- Unknown
- Melissa Krueger, Growing Together, Crossway, 2020, 132)
- Unknown
- Philippians 4:6-7, Phillips
- Harry Ironside
Art & photo credits: http://www.flickr.com; http://www.piqsels.com; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.wpclipart.com; http://www.lookandlearn.com; http://www.piqsels.com; http://www.wikimedia.org; http://www.pxfuel.com; http://www.pixahive.com; http://www.pxfuel.com; http://www.freebibleimages.org; http://www.wikimedia.org.
From the Inside Out 
Great examples of “turnings,” Nancy. 🙂
How about this one:
A sense of humor turns a trial into a joke. 😉
That’s a worthy addition for sure, Annie. Humor does work wonders in stressful situations. Thank you for adding it to our list!
Excellent post, Nancy, with fine examples of changes in the world around us. And your illustrations are beautiful and so appropriate for the post.
Thank you, Vicklea. Your encouragement means so much!
Wonderful message, Nancy. I tend to see the dark cloud and yet I know in my heart that God is working. Thanks for the excellent examples. One of my favorite Bible studies is Joseph. God Bless.
Thank you, Shelley. I too find myself returning to Joseph’s story for encouragement. The way his circumstances turned around in a matter of minutes–from prisoner to prime minister–reminds me that with God all things ARE possible!
Nancy, Thanks for this post! Psalm 32:8 is similar to those in Proverbs when God said he will direct our steps. Psalm 37:23-24. It is interesting that whatever valley’s we are in that God is there to guide up. We plan our ways, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
I was reading there were 77 references like Psalm 32:8.
When I look back to many hard times…God was leading in ways I could not understand until I look back some decades later. Thanks you again for this posts. Sam
I’ve experienced the same, Sam–circumstances that made sense in hindsight, when I could see how God engineered events for our behalf. Praise God we can trust him to direct our steps! And thank you for adding those appropriate scriptures to the discussion!
Wonderful, wonderful message , Nancy. My favorite quote “gratitude turns what we have into enough”
Thank you, Brenda. Isn’t that a great quote? The fact that it’s short, making it easy to remember, adds to its value! : )
Nancy, I’m thankful that God is in the turning business, particularly turning weaklings to warriors. I often need strength that only He can provide.
Hello, Tresa! So good to see you here. You may be thinking of a different kind of strength, but as a former teacher I know that physical and emotional strength are MUSTS and sometimes in short supply–when there was too much to do and the day to day energy needed to corral and teach a roomful of kids was running low. But somehow God always got me through those rough patches–I’m still here! : )
Teaching has definitely been a challenge both physically and emotionally the last two years and continues to be the most difficult time of my career. Strength and joy from God as well as His promises have truly helped.
I’m so sorry that the last two years have been especially difficult for you, Tresa. I pray for God’s supernatural wisdom and strength for dealing with the challenges and to make your path straight!
Such encouraging and inspiring thoughts here, Nancy, about how God is always working in our lives, turning us into better persons for His sake. He is ever present and ever at work in us.
Blessings!
Amen, Martha. I hate to think who I’d be if he hadn’t been working on me all these decades. How grateful I am he never gives up!
Nancy, this is an encouraging post how God can turn things! He is all sufficient!
And hallelujah for that: Our God IS all-sufficient. There’s such comfort is just that thought alone!
Wonderful Insights Nancy. At best our own self-help is shifting ones position a little. God does the 180’s in our life.
Thank you, Gary. We definitely need God’s empowerment to lead a godly life. Even our faith comes from Jesus, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2)!
I realized how short sighted my comment was as I know God makes streams in a desert and can turn our weaknesses into strength. “turn’s” what a word.
What a glorious reality–God can turn our weaknesses into strength! No doubt there are more “turns” we could add to the list. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted” (Job 5:9)!
Thank you for these wonderful reminders
Thank YOU for stopping by! I’m so glad you found these reminders worthwhile, C. A. Praise God for his inspiration!
This is such a powerful blog to me, Nancy. How many times God has turned my attitude from grumbling to praise, and my weaknesses into His strength. All of the turning produces so much praise. Thank you for all these perspectives that you have shared. I’ll be saving this blog and referring to it over and over. Bless you, my friend!
Praise God this post ministered encouragement to you, Patty! That warms my heart.
Oh every line you’ve offered here, Nancy, has deep truths and needed encouragement. And yes, I know more than a few grandchildren who’d love to be checking out that science experiment up top. I just hope it won’t be at my place!
Thank you, LInda. As for the science experiment, you could do it in the sink!!
Like one of your readers above I, too, tend to see the dark cloud when things are going sideways. I know in my heart that I am just passing through this world and am so very grateful that this world is not my home. The Lord led me to Psalm 37 and I have been much encouraged by the great number of reassurances therein that in the end God is in control and the ever-increasing evil that we are currently witnessing will be vanquished by Him in is perfect timing. Great blog, Nancy.
Thank you, Cheri. I’ll have to reread Psalm 37 and look for those reassurances myself. Just this morning I was reviewing 1 Peter 1:3-9. It’s another passage that offers needed encouragement for such times as these!
love this and I think one of my favorite of your blogs ever!! I think you could turn this post into a gift book. Would be beautiful and inspirational. I especially loved this line Wonder turns weariness to WOW!
Aw, thank you, Jean. I’m honored you think this post has book-potential. I thought of you when I included that statement about wonder turning weariness to wow, since “wonder” was your focus-word a year or two ago. (Maybe three by now!!)
Baking soda and vinegar are my favorite cleaning ingredients. 🙂 Also helps with clogged drains. These are amazing photos of nature.
Keeping hope alive in my heart knowing my God is always at work. Stay safe!
You’re right: baking soda and vinegar provide much more than just ingredients for a science experiment! So glad you enjoyed the photos, Lux. I was pleasantly surprised by those I could find that weren’t copyright protected. Thank you very much for stopping by Lux, and taking the time to comment.
Nancy,
May the Lord do that wonderful change in these times.
In Christ, Gary
Amen, Gary!
Yep, we did the baking soda volcanoes too back in the day. 🙂 And thanks for the reminder to never discount all the other reactions that God has set in place just for us too!
You’re welcome, Lisa! Glad to elicit a smiley face from you too!
[…] opened the laptop and browsed emails. I noticed a comment from the last blog; a fun one as Nancy said “Your responses to commenters are every bit as insightful as your posts, Gary!” I […]
Nancy, I hope you do not mind: I used our comment exchange on a blog idea from my last post and also put a link to this particular blog as the insight and the way you presented it is great. So many people could learn from this in honing their “insight presentation skills”
Thank you so much, Gary. I am honored!
“Wonder turns weariness to WOW!” That’s exactly what your nature photos did to my heart, Nancy. Thank you. Also for all the rest of the encouragement here. The experiment prompted a memory from childhood. We had pans that had copper bottoms that would get all dark. When we sprinkled salt on it and then poured vinegar on it, it transformed into a beautiful bright coppery color. 🙂 Love and blessings to you!
I don’t remember where I read that “weariness to WOW” phrase, but I love it. Praise God he’s given us a number of ways to foster that transformation. So glad the photos did it for you, Trudy. And thank you for sharing the vinegar/salt trick for copper. Sounds a lot quicker than scrubbing with cleanser!
Great reminders and encouragement!!
He turns our mess into a message…for His glory!!
Amen, Alicia! I never heard that statement about mess into message. Good truth expressed in a clever way! Thank you for sharing.
“Gratitude turns what we have into enough”. I love Amy Grant’s music, and one of her albums – a bit out of character for her – was “Simple Things”. The title track speaks to gratitude (including the miracle of forgiving). I think as we get older and wiser, we learn we have a lot more than we think we do.
Did you ever see “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat”, Nancy? It’s still one of my favorite stage productions and the music/lyrics are wonderful. I remember reading the Bible passages after seeing the musical. No liberties taken; the story was exactly as originally documented.
Don’t know that I’ve heard that Amy Grant song. But it’s true: the simple things of life can bring great joy if we’re paying attention to notice them and then express gratitude to God. I’ve enjoyed keeping a gratitude journal since 2017–just recording one thing each day. Reviewing the day to decide what to write always lightens my spirit. / Yes, we did see “Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.” We enjoyed it immensely too!
Thanks for the needed reminder Nancy that it’s our choice to focus on the countless wonders He provides us each and every day, not lament over life’s temporary trials, and strive to maintain an “attitude of gratitude”.
An attitude of gratitude makes SUCH a big difference in our lives–when that gratitude is offered to God. Then it increases our joy while enhancing our relationship with him.