The Beauty of Giving Old Things a New Life

By Lauren Rose Correa, April 25, 2025

I am an avid thrifter, DIYer, and repurposer of second-hand items. My passion is to give old things – often doomed for the dumpster – a new lease on life. Whether it be the water damaged vanity that I painstakingly repaired and repainted, the American Girl dolls I scored for $3.99 apiece that I cleaned and rewigged, the thrifted vessels I use for floral arrangements, or the frames that I made from a large trash picked golden frame, I get a rush from breathing new life into things that seem dead.

I think that a lot of people really resonate with this idea of new life. And I think there’s a reason why it’s such a universally exciting concept. God the father loves creating new things out of what was once dead. He did this for me, when he took me from someone who was struggling mentally to someone who is stable and has a great husband and daughter. Everything in my life is because of his blessings. He does this for all believers, when he takes us from lost sinners to cherished children of God. He can do this in your life: take the difficult situation you are in and breathe new life into it.

I have a tattoo on my arm that says, “New life.” To me, it is a constant reminder of what God is able to do when we give him control of our lives. I love that whenever I repurpose a piece of furniture, save a doll from the dumpster, or create a DIY project from thrifted finds, I am reflecting in a small way what my creator is able to do.

If you want God to create something out of your life, just ask him. He is faithful to answer our prayers! He is always at work and creating something new.