Self-transformation is something we all seek after, but many of us don't have the tools to embark upon this journey in a way that creates lasting change. Unrealistic expectations, faulty self-assessments, and inadequate tools for self-change, set us up for cycles of failure. Sometimes churches sell hope in a way that is not helpful. They promise immediate deliverance and often spread the belief that change can happen relatively quickly. Statements like, "I am a new man", or the "old man has been left behind" fail to acknowledge that change is a long process. Self-transformation happens when we hold ourselves accountable to the past versions of ourselves. Being a Christian is not about being invulnerable, invincible, or relentlessly optimistic. It is about being honest about our lifelong struggles, realistic in our assessments, cautious in our optimism for change, and surrounded by the support we need to grow. Jeremiah 29 deals with having honest conversations with ourselves about the very long journey, a seventy-year exile, a marathon of steady, supported growth.