Transfiguration vs. Transformation

Transfiguration vs. Transformation: A Daily Walk with God

I recently had a conversation with a friend in ministry about Transfiguration and Transformation. At first, we seemed to be talking about the same thing, but we soon realized our focus was different. My friend sees Transfiguration mostly as a tradition to celebrate, something we remember and honor. I understand that, but for me, I always ask, “How does this apply to my life today?”

Yes, the Bible gives us examples of Transfiguration, like when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples. But I believe Jesus didn’t come just to show us something amazing for one moment. He came to bring us into a daily relationship with God, to help us live in the way we were created to live.

Many people talk about how Jesus came to change us, but I don’t see it that way. I believe God sent Jesus to renew us, to help us become more of what we were meant to be. God didn’t make us to all be the same. If that were the case, we would have been created like identical copies. Instead, we are each unique reflections of God—but we are also a mix of who God is and who God isn’t.

Why? Because we have free will. We make choices, and sometimes those choices pull us away from God’s desires. The world is full of distractions, temptations, and even lies that seem good on the surface. But when we walk with God, we begin to see more clearly. Our transformation is not about becoming someone different—it’s about getting closer to who we were always meant to be.

When I think about transformation, I see it as an ongoing process. Just like in therapy, where someone learns to heal and grow, our spiritual life is a journey of learning, growing, and renewing. It’s not about guilt or punishment—it’s about understanding, surrendering, and walking with God every day.

This means transformation isn’t about changing my identity. Instead, it’s about renewing my connection with God so I can reflect His love in my own unique way. I don’t need to erase who I am—I need to clear away what’s blocking the real me from shining through.

Some people focus mostly on the big moments—like the Transfiguration of Jesus—but I believe our faith is meant to be lived in the small, everyday moments too. Transformation happens when we:

• Recognize the ways we’ve moved away from God’s truth

• Choose to turn back to Him, not just in words, but in how we live

• Allow our daily experiences—good and bad—to shape us through God’s love

• Trust that we don’t have to be perfect—just willing to keep growing

God is not asking us to be someone else. He’s calling us to be fully who we were created to be—and that happens one step at a time, every single day.

The Transfiguration was a moment when Christ revealed His true nature—His glorified self—in a way that was undeniable to those who witnessed it. It was not about becoming someone different, but about revealing what was already true in a way that deepened faith and understanding.

If the Transfiguration was meant to reinforce faith and show the beauty of transformation, then how can anyone who calls themselves Christian use mockery, harm, or rejection toward people experiencing their own transformation? Too often, people—both Christians and non-Christians—dehumanize and reject the trans community instead of showing grace, love, and understanding. But if we take the lesson of the Transfiguration seriously, we should recognize that transformation is part of God’s work.

Rather than disparaging those who are seeking to live in their truth, Christians should be the first to extend compassion. If the Transfiguration was meant to strengthen faith, then maybe faith today requires learning to see people more fully, with love, rather than judgment. After all, God does not call us to control or condemn others—He calls us to love.

It’s worth asking: Are we living in the spirit of the Transfiguration? Or are we doing the very thing Christ warned against—shutting the door of the Kingdom in people’s faces (Matthew 23:13)?