John Newton’s life is a powerful picture of redemption. Once deeply involved in the slave trade, Newton was a man hardened by sin and self-interest. But God’s mercy reached him, changed him, and gave him a new identity. He didn’t become perfect overnight. His journey was slow, humbling, and marked by the quiet, persistent work of grace.
Reflecting on his life, he wrote:
“I am not what I ought to be,
I am not what I want to be,
I am not what I hope to be in another world;
but still I am not what I once used to be,
and by the grace of God I am what I am.”
His words are honest, raw, and full of hope. They still resonate today and offer encouragement to all of us walking the path of transformation.
We all carry things we wish weren’t part of us. We all see areas that still need healing and growth. But when we look back, we begin to see the hand of God. We begin to realize:
I’ve got a long way to go.
There are still things in me I wish weren’t there.
But when I look back… I barely recognize the person I used to be.
I’m not who I was—and that’s only because of God’s grace.
I’m still becoming, but by His mercy, I am no longer lost.
Grace doesn’t just forgive. It transforms. And it keeps shaping us day by day, even when we don’t see the progress right away. We never outgrow our need for God’s grace. But thank God we are not who we once were. And by His grace, the best is yet to come.
Hallelujah.