A few weeks ago, we got Cole some new shoes. When he put them on, though, he looked like he was unsure whether he liked them or not.

I knew that if he liked them, he’d want to wear them wherever we went. If he didn’t like them, it would be a daily fight to get him to put them on. I thought I’d say something to push his decision toward a more favorable opinion. “I bet with those shoes you’ll be able to run faster and jump higher!”

Cole took me at my word. He began running everywhere. From the living room to the front door, from the front door to the car, up and down the driveway.

One day I heard him yell at me, “Daddy! Watch how fast I can run in my new shoes!” and he took off at a sprint. As I watched him disappear in the distance, I realized something: He’s fast.

I was in awe of his speed. I felt my chest expand in pride. I turned to the person next to me, pointed toward Cole and said, “See that kid? That’s my son.” Since the person next to me was Amy, she just rolled her eyes and said, “Duh.”

My mind flashed years ahead. I imagined Cole on a professional sporting team, or perhaps as an Olympic sprinter. I considered the pride I’d feel at his accomplishments. Not only was I proud of him right now as a little kid running in the front yard, I was proud of what he could become – I was proud of the potential I saw within him.

This is similar to the way God sees his children. God loved us even when we were sinners (Romans 5:8). But God’s love didn’t end there. He saw more in us. He saw potential in us that we didn’t even know we had!

So after saving us, he began changing us from the inside out. He began transforming us into the likeness of his son, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). God loved us in spite of who we were, and he loved us for who we would become – with his help, of course.

Where are you on this journey? Have you just recently accepted Christ as your savior? Or are you on that journey of transition, where God is changing you into more than you could ever be on your own?

Let him work in your life. And as he does, run. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run with perseverance the race marked out for you (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Parrish Myers is a local minister. His column appears biweekly in Sunday Life and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.