An Unlikely Comeback
Some people are unlikely for a reason—they don’t deserve to be likely. That thought led me to search for history’s worst individuals, and I found a list titled “20 of the Worst People Who Have Ever Lived.” It included names like Jim Jones, Idi Amin, Genghis Khan, and at the top—Hitler.
But have you ever heard of Manasseh?
Manasseh was one of the most wicked kings in Judah’s history. Despite being the son of Hezekiah, a godly ruler, Manasseh led the nation into deep idolatry, sorcery, and even sacrificed his own sons. He was responsible for immense bloodshed and plunged Judah into its darkest spiritual era.
Yet, God still pursued him.
After being captured and humiliated by the Assyrians, Manasseh found himself in deep distress. And in that moment, he did something unthinkable—he humbled himself before God. And God? He listened. He forgave. He restored.
Manasseh’s story gives us two major key takeaways:
Sin has consequences. Manasseh couldn’t undo the harm he had caused, and neither can we. Sin takes us further than we want to go, keeps us longer than we want to stay, and costs us more than we want to pay.
No one is beyond God’s grace. No sin is too great for God’s mercy. True repentance leads to transformation, and Manasseh’s life is proof. When he returned, he tore down idols, restored worship, and spent the rest of his reign pointing others to God.
Maybe today, you feel like the most unlikely person for God to use. Maybe your past is messy, broken, or full of regret. Yet, God still has a purpose for you. Maybe there’s someone you’ve written off as beyond redemption. Yet, God isn’t done with them.
C.S. Lewis once said, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
No matter how unlikely you think you are, God says you are made for more. Will you let Him change your ending?