3 Ways to Experience God’s Renewal This Easter

I love watching the promises of spring unfold every year. After months of gray clouds, cold winds, and hard freezes, the first pop of yellow flowers I see releases the breath I didn’t even know I’d been holding. It’s like I forgot that the barrenness of winter doesn’t last. But God knew. It was His plan for nature all along.

God leads us through seasons of renewal, too. He loves us too much to let sin keep us apart. His plan for His children always included reviving His relationship with us. Always. And Easter is a celebration of His fulfilled plan: His love that pursued us. His grace that saved us. And His power that raised Jesus from the grave. That’s why Easter is a time of joy!

Jesus’ work on the Cross may be finished, but God’s work in you isn’t! He’s still transforming your life. And here are three ways to experience His renewal for yourself this Easter—like the first pop of yellow flowers after a long winter, reminding you that new life is here.

1. Through Redemption

At the first Passover, God told the Israelites to put the blood of a lamb on their door frames so that death would “pass over” them. The blood of the lamb in Exodus provided temporary deliverance, but Jesus, our ultimate Redeemer, offers permanent freedom. Through Jesus—the Lamb of God—the judgment we deserved has passed over us.

In the Old Testament, a redeemer paid the full price to free another person from slavery. Jesus did that for us on the Cross. He paid the full price to free us from sin once and for all. Thankfully, Jesus didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up before offering His grace. Jesus met us in our brokenness. Romans 5:8 puts it this way: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

But, even knowing all that, you might still wrestle with guilt or shame. Your brain knows you’re forgiven, but your heart struggles to believe it, especially in the winter seasons. You may question if you’ve done too much, failed too often, or drifted too far. But Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. Period. He paid your debt in full. You are redeemed!

Experience It:  Write down something you’ve been holding onto. You could write down a mistake, a regret, or a burden. Then, tear it up and throw it away. Say: “Because of Jesus, I am set free.” Let this process be a reminder of this truth in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “The old has gone, the new is here!”

2. Through Restoration

Eventually, in this life, everyone experiences a loss, a disappointment, or a brokenness that feels beyond repair. We can carry that pain so profoundly that it feels like a permanent part of our lives. And, even when we sing worship songs about God bringing beauty from ashes, we question whether God can really do that in our lives.

But Easter is proof that He can.

Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross redeemed us, but the Easter story doesn’t end at Golgotha. It ends with an empty tomb. When Jesus rose from the grave, He made things new. His resurrected body still bore the scars of the crucifixion, yet He was glorified.

The same is true for us. Joel 2:25 says, “I will restore the years the locusts have eaten.” This promise remains valid. The very places where we feel the most devastation can become the spaces where His restoration power creates new beginnings.

Think about Naomi in the book of Ruth. She lost her husband and sons and believed her life was essentially over. In her despair, Naomi renamed herself “Mara,” meaning bitter. But God had a plan she couldn’t yet see. He was working beneath the surface just like He does in winter to bring forth something new. Through Ruth’s faithfulness and Boaz’s kindness, God rebuilt what Naomi thought was lost forever. The Lord restored her family and connected her family (through Ruth) to the lineage of Jesus Himself.

Experience It: Find something in your home that’s been broken and repaired. (A scar on your body also works!) Look at it closely. Pray: “God, just like this broken thing got fixed, I’m asking you to restore the broken parts of my life, too. Turn the painful stuff into something that shows others Your healing power. Help me see my scars not as reminders of what hurt me, but as proof of your restoration. Amen.”

3. Through Resurrection Power

After witnessing Jesus’ death on the cross, the disciples felt deep despair. From their short-sighted human perspective, Jesus wasn’t supposed to die. He was the Messiah. So, for three days, they hid together lost in fear.

But then that stone got rolled away! And the disciples met the risen Christ and became bold proclaimers of the Gospel. Well, what changed? They became empowered by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.

And guess what? The same power that conquered death lives in you.

Easter celebrates what happened back then, but Easter also celebrates what God is doing right now. Romans 8:11 says, “If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

Maybe today, you feel lost and broken, too. You fear you’re trapped in a situation you didn’t expect or plan on, but you don’t know a way forward. Or perhaps an addiction keeps pulling you back, or your faith feels stagnant. Well, what feels impossible to you is not impossible to God.

Jesus stepped out of the tomb, which means you can step into the new life He has for you. You can’t do this with your willpower or your own strength, though. But, through the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit, you can.

Experience It: In the morning, stand up and stretch your arms wide. Take a deep breath and say: “God’s resurrection power is alive in me today.” Then, as you go through your day, remind yourself: “I’m not facing this alone. His strength is in me.”

A Final Word About Renewal

God’s work is often slow, quiet, and beneath the surface, like seeds growing unseen beneath the soil. Spiritual renewal is rarely felt immediately, especially during difficult seasons when the winter seems endless. But just as spring always follows winter, God is faithful to His promises (even when we can’t see or feel the evidence yet). Keep showing up, keep inviting Him in, and trust that in His perfect timing, you’ll begin to notice those first yellow flowers of new life pop up.