From Coal to Diamond

There are a lot of ways we can think about transformation, but one of the examples that resonates the most for me is coal transforming into a diamond.

When you think about coal, it’s dirty. It doesn’t look very impressive. It’s something you might not even notice. But over time, and under tremendous pressure, that coal transforms into a diamond.

When I think about that, I start thinking about our own lives. Transformation in our lives sometimes takes time and often comes with a lot of pressure. We don’t necessarily love the process while we’re going through it, but what comes out of it can be something absolutely beautiful—often better than we could even imagine.

The Transformation of Moses

When I talk about transformation, one of the stories in the Bible that I often look at is the story of Moses.

His transformation begins from the time he was a baby.   He was born a Jewish slave who, according to the law of the time, should have been killed. Instead, he was taken into Pharaoh’s household and raised in the Egyptian court.

He was educated in Egyptian schools and trained in the Egyptian way of life.

But then something changed.

One day Moses saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave. Something in him knew that what he was seeing wasn’t right. In that moment he killed the Egyptian.

Instantly, Moses transformed from someone raised in the Egyptian court into a murderer.

Fearing the repercussions from Pharaoh, he ran away.

Forty Years in the Desert

When Moses fled Egypt, he went into the desert. But he wasn’t just wandering around.

He became a shepherd.

For forty years he shepherded sheep in Midian.

The number forty is interesting in Scripture. In Hebrew understanding, forty often represents transformation. You see it in different places throughout the Bible.

Jesus spent forty days facing Satan in the wilderness. In the story of Noah, rain fell for forty days. And Moses spent forty years in Midian.

Those forty years were a time of preparation.

He was learning how to care for sheep. He was learning how to guide them, how to lead them, how to protect them.

And later, that is exactly what he would do with the people of Israel.

Meeting God on the Mountain

Eventually Moses went up onto the mountain and came face to face with God.

God told him to go back to Egypt.

But Moses resisted.

He said, “I’m not ready. I don’t speak well. This isn’t something I can do.”

God answered him by saying, “I will go with you. And I will give you Aaron to speak for you.”

Through this transformation, God was guiding Moses step by step. It wasn’t easy, but God was there with him.

One Person Can Transform a Nation

What’s fascinating is that by the time Moses returned to Egypt, God had been transforming him for a very long time.

When he went back, that transformation didn’t stop with him.

Through Moses, God began transforming an entire nation.

You can see the transformation happening in several places in the story. Pharaoh’s heart becomes hardened. Moses becomes more confident in God’s direction. The Israelites begin to believe.

God uses Moses’ transformation not just for Moses himself, but for the transformation of the nation of Israel.

It’s a powerful reminder that one person, guided by God, can help change the world.

From Murderer to Lawgiver

One of the most remarkable parts of Moses’ story happens later.

After the Israelites leave Egypt, Moses goes up onto the mountain to receive the law.

Think about that transformation.

This is someone who had murdered a man and ran away in fear of punishment. And now he is the one who receives the law and gives it to the people.

It’s an extraordinary transformation—from someone who committed a crime to someone who delivers the law.

I absolutely love that part of the story in Exodus.

The Transformation of Forgiveness

Another powerful part of transformation is forgiveness.

Forgiveness can lead to enormous transformation, but it’s not easy.

People often say that forgiveness is for you rather than for the other person. But many people struggle with that idea.

They say, “If forgiveness is for me, and I don’t feel good about forgiving someone, why should I do it?”

Often the reason it’s hard to forgive someone is because they were very close to you. It might be a family member or someone you deeply loved. When they hurt you, the pain is intense.

Forgiveness requires going through that pain.

Just like coal has to endure enormous pressure to become a diamond, forgiveness requires us to move through pressure and pain in order to reach transformation.

Pain That Shapes Who We Become

Sometimes we think that the people who hurt us only brought negative things into our lives.

We think, “That person hurt me, and that’s why I am the way I am today.”

But we often overlook something important.

The pain we went through also shaped us in positive ways. It helped create the person we are today.

The difficult experiences in our lives don’t just produce pain. They can also produce growth, strength, and compassion.

When we recognize that, we can begin to see forgiveness differently.

Yes, what happened may have hurt deeply. But it also played a role in shaping who we became.

Transformation Through the Word of God

Another place where transformation happens is through the Word of God.

The Bible is a beautiful book, but it’s not just something you read once and finish.

In many ways, the Bible finishes you.

As you read it, it begins shaping your character. It smooths out rough edges. It teaches you how to honor God and treat others well.

The Bible isn’t ultimately about us. It’s about God—His story and His testimony.

But when we read it, it transforms us.

And the more we return to it, the more that transformation continues.

Transformation Stories in Scripture

The Bible is filled with stories of transformation.

You see it in Jacob. You see it in Saul, who became Paul. You see it in many other people throughout Scripture.

What’s amazing is that we are not that different from the people in those stories.

We are still capable of sin, but we are also capable of incredible faith and courage.

With God’s guidance, people can be transformed into individuals who influence entire communities and nations.

Facing the Giants

Transformation often requires courage.

Think about the story of David and Goliath.

Sometimes the giants in our lives feel enormous. We look at them and feel afraid. We don’t want to face them.

But transformation can’t happen unless we trust God and move forward.

In the military there is a principle that soldiers often repeat: keep moving forward.

There will be times when you are sad. Times when you are afraid. Times when life feels like a battle.

But even then, you keep moving forward.

When the Pressure Feels Too Great

There are moments when the pressure of life feels overwhelming.

It’s like being that piece of coal under intense pressure.

You may want to stop the process. You may feel like giving up because the pressure hurts.

But if you continue forward, something remarkable can emerge.

You can become the diamond that God created you to be.

And that’s not about pride. It’s not about saying, “I’m the best.”

It’s about recognizing that God has transformed you into the person He intended you to become.

When Faith Feels Distant

Sometimes people experience another kind of transformation.

They have already accepted Jesus. They have read the Bible and understand the stories. But then they begin to feel distant from God.

They start to wonder if they are drifting away.

People often say the answer is to pray more, read Scripture more, or listen to worship music. Those things are important.

But sometimes there is another step that helps…serving.

The Power of Serving Others

Serving others can be incredibly powerful.

I like to think about it this way: when you are a waiter, you are there to serve people.

Sometimes in life we are in a waiting season.

And while we are waiting, we can still serve.

Serving others helps reconnect us to God and reminds us why our faith matters.

Seeing Faith in the Eyes of Others

Another thing that can renew your faith is simply watching what happens in the lives of others.

Look into the eyes of someone who has just discovered Jesus.

Watch someone come out of the water after baptism. Look at the joy in their face. Look at a child who is filled with wonder about Jesus.

In those moments, you see something powerful.

You see faith come alive.

Remember Your Testimony

When you feel uncertain or distant from God, remember your testimony.

Remember what God has already brought you through.

Your testimony can never be taken away from you.

You can look back and say, “God, You were good to me. You were good to my loved ones. Even when I went through pressure, You were there.”

Yes, there were hard moments. Yes, there were seasons of pressure when coal had to become a diamond.

But God was faithful through it all.

And when you see that same transformation in someone else’s life, it reminds you again of what is true.

God is still transforming hearts—and He is still transforming us. 

Dr. David Shapiro is a Christian pastor, author, and apologist whose life journey took him from being raised in an Orthodox Jewish home to atheism and ultimately to a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ. He holds a doctorate in religious education and serves as a pastor and chaplain, bringing a unique blend of personal testimony, deep biblical study, and apologetics to his teaching and writing. Dr. Shapiro is the co-host of The Boundless Bible podcast and the author of Unshakable: The Evidence Behind The Bible, where he explores the historical and spiritual foundations of Christian faith from both lived experience and scholarly insight. His teaching emphasizes the grace, truth, and steadfast love found in Scripture.

Listen & Connect: You can find The Boundless Bible podcast, book updates, and resources at drdavidshapiro.org.