The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2)

This second line of Genesis would have spoken to ancient Israel and should speak to you. They would have seen how God took the raw material, the not-yet state of creation, and put it together in splendor and beauty. And, as they wandered in the wilderness after the exodus and considered their own not-yet state, they should have been encouraged by the ability of God to take raw material and make something beautiful.

And He can do the same in you. He can take your raw material and make His beautiful new creation. His Spirit hovers over, but also in you if you're His child, and He has plans for you. He has a work He wills to launch in you. He is making all things new.

You must believe in His ability to produce His new and perfect creation in you. The story of Scripture is that God created, sin broke what He created, but Jesus came so God could remake what was broken through sin. And this includes you and me.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Brothers and sisters, we are not yet what we will be. The day will come, of course, when "we shall be like Him" (1 John 3:2). On that day, we will see Him "face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12). We will be fully mature in Him, having received the benefits of glorification.

And though we are not yet glorified, God is bringing us, by His Spirit, closer to His ideal for us. He is shaping His church collectively, and each individual Christian, in a way that will cause Him to say, "It is good." And if the Spirit is pursuing such a work, let's submit ourselves to God's Spirit.

Remember Peter? Jesus had a vision for him. He knew what He'd planned for this man. He saw the raw material called Simon, and He brought out from the man a great champion of the faith, even praying for him when Satan wanted to sift him like wheat (Luke 22:31-32).

Let's allow God to do the same in us, to take our not-yet state, our raw material, and make us who He wants us to be.