26 Bible Verses About Change

The Bible reveals that change is a significant part of the Christian life. Some aspects of spiritual transformation are effortless and beautiful, while others are painful and laborious. Change is also a natural part of the cycle of life, but many people resist or fear it because navigating the unknown can make our lives feel out of control. As we explore Bible verses about change, we'll identify what God says in His Word and how he wants us to grow through every season and experience of change.

What Does the Bible Say About Change?

The first change we experience as believers is repentance. Repentance means a sincere turning away from sin, both in mind and heart. Instead of living to gratify ourselves, we start living to glorify and please God. While spiritual change begins on the inside, it usually becomes quickly evident on the outside, since it naturally leads to adjustments in our behavior.  

Further transformation takes place as God begins to remake us into the image of Christ. This is called the process of sanctification. Our new life as a believer in Jesus Christ is meant to reflect God's glory in ever-increasing measure. As we change and grow in faith, we reveal the truth and beauty about God to others.

Change Is Inevitable

Human existence consists of a mixture of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, harmony and discord, and life and death. Every experience has its proper moment. No situation and nothing in this world is ours forever. Accepting these earthly transitions as a natural part of life's ongoing cycle—even when we don't understand them—helps us to deal with them. We can trust in God's sovereign influence over every instant in our lives:

Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war
and a time for peace. (NIV)

Psalm 31:15
My times are in your hand. (NIV)

Daniel 2:20-21
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. (ESV)

Change Happens From the Inside Out

Once we become a child of God, we break away from the pattern of this world. We are created anew in Jesus Christ. When we receive the Spirit of Christ within, we are changed all at once. Yet, at the same time, a process of sanctification begins inside us as the Holy Spirit reshapes our minds and changes our inner person. As we spend time in God’s presence, beholding Christ, eventually, we begin to mirror the one we behold.  

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

Galatians 2:20
My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (NLT)

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:11
Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 3:18
So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. (NLT)

Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (ESV)

Colossians 3:10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. (NLT)

John 3:30
He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less. (NLT)

By the Holy Spirit of God We Are Changed

As we mature in Christ, we ought to gradually notice a change from Christlessness to Christlikeness. But this process does not happen overnight. Regeneration (new birth) happens instantaneously, but sanctification takes a lifetime.

Philippians 1:6
And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (NLT)

Ephesians 2:3–6
All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. (NLT)

Ephesians 2:8-10
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (NLT)

Titus 3:3–7
Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. (NLT)

Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)

2 Corinthians 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (NIV)

Psalm 103:1–5
Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (NIV)

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NIV)

Our Bodies Will Be Changed

God has a resurrected body awaiting us in eternity. Right now, our earthly bodies get sick, break down, fall into sin, grow old, and eventually die. But Christians can live with hope knowing that someday they will receive a perfect, heavenly body that will never die. That body will be like the one Jesus Christ has now:

Philippians 3:21
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control. (NLT)

1 John 3:2
Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. (NLT)

God Does Not Change

Circumstances may change, but God never does. He remains the same and he will never leave us or forsake us. The constancy of Jesus Christ is a trustworthy anchor that secures our lives today and our futures for eternity.

Malachi 3:6
"I the LORD do not change." (NIV)

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV)

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? (NLT)

Hebrews 6:17–19
God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind. So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. (NLT)

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. (NIV)