Even the most hardened hearts—the ones who deny God passionately, mock faith openly, or seem completely unreachable can become powerful witnesses to the grace of Jesus.
And here’s why: God’s grace is sovereign and unstoppable.
God doesn’t give up on anyone. He sees what we can’t—the purpose buried beneath the resistance, the life He is redeeming, the story He has ordained that is still unfolding.
Take Paul, for example. Before he was the bold apostle who helped spread the Gospel across the Roman Empire, he was Saul, the man set on silencing the message of Jesus. He was on a mission to silence believers. But God had already chosen him for a different purpose.
“Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him… ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’”
— Acts 9:3–4 (NIV)
In one powerful moment, everything changed, not because Saul sought God, but because God sought Saul. The sam man who tried to destroy the church became its tireless servant. That’s the transforming power of divine grace.
We see echoes of this kind of transformation in modern times too. C.S. Lewis, known today as one of Christianity’s most influential writers, once called himself an atheist. He considered belief in God as a fantasy. But through years of searching, and the quiet faithful presence of friends, God drew Him in. Lewis would go on to write Mere Christianity and The Chronicles of Narnia, leading countless others toward faith.
God is still doing that kind of work today, quietly, patiently, and with perfect intention. He is not hindered by resistance or doubt.
So what does that mean for us? It means we keep praying. We don’t give up on them or assume their story is already written because Jesus has a plan for everyone.
“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people.”
— 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV)
All people. Even the doubters. Even the deniers. Even the ones who seem the furthest away.
We don’t always see the full picture. But God does. Today’s skeptic could be tomorrow’s preacher. Today’s atheist could be tomorrow’s disciple.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
— Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
So let’s stay hopeful and steadfast. . Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep loving the people who seem far off—because God’s not finished. His grace really does change everything.
The Most Reluctant Convert: The Untold Story of C.S. Lewis (DVD)
How did C.S. Lewis journey from a staunch atheist to become one of the most influential Christian writers of the 20th century? The Most Reluctant Convert is a captivating biopic that traces the life of Lewis’s transformation–from the tragic loss of his mother at age nine, through the harrowing trenches of World War One, and on to his academic life at Oxford University where deep friendships challenged his unbelief. Lewis famously described himself as “the most reluctant convert in all England.”
Starring award-winning actor Max McLean as the elder Lewis and Nicholas Ralph (of All Creatures Great and Small) as the young Lewis, this film is beautifully shot in and around Oxford. The Most Reluctant Convert powerfully depicts how grief and loss can be redeemed by God’s grace.