New Beginnings…
New Beginnings…
They are all around us. We often become hyper-focused on new beginnings at the dawn of a new year, when in reality we are faced with new beginnings all year long.
We may be eager for a fresh start or a new adventure, a heart filled with anticipation and enthusiasm for what the day, week, or year will bring.
Though for some, there may be anxiousness or reluctance to step into new circumstances, or new challenges, because facing something new seems scary and more intimidating than staying right where we are… even if where we are is in a place of heartache, discontentment, or mediocrity.
Some new beginnings we plan and prepare for…
…a new marriage or the birth of a child or grandchild
…a new job or the beginning of a school year
… a new house, maybe even a new community, a blossoming relationship, a new ministry opportunity.
But sometimes a new beginning is foisted upon us…
…life suddenly without a spouse, child, parent, dear loved ones, or close friends
…finding a new place to live because of financial crisis or a devastating fire
…an unexpected layoff requiring the search for a new job
Throughout life’s journey we find ourselves taking new roads like these, along with many other milestones, challenges and adventures.
And every road has a beginning. Even roads that come to an end should take us to a new place to begin another part of our journey.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Each day is a new day that can never be repeated…some we’d rather not repeat, thank you very much! Yet, whether they are good days or bad days, we can learn from them, we can build on them, we can be grateful for them.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Since the beginning of creation Yahweh has been a God of new beginnings. When the world had fallen into corruption and self-destruction, God provided a new beginning to mankind through Noah and his family.
When the Israelites were enslaved and mistreated by the Egyptians, God sent Moses to lead His people out of slavery to begin a new life in the land of milk and honey.
When the Israelites were sent into captivity for their constant disobedience, God sent Ezra, Nehemiah and a small remnant back to Jerusalem to build a new wall and a new temple before the faithful returned.
After 400 years of silence, God sent His only Son to establish a new covenant and bring in a new kingdom of redemption and forgiveness.
When Jesus was crucified and lay in the tomb, He did not remain there forever. God raised Him from the dead so that we would have new life in Christ!
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4
What new beginning awaits you? Are you excited for it or dreading it? Or are you stuck on the side of the road, not sure how to begin?
The best place to begin is to “serve the LORD with gladness! Come into His presence…and to His courts with praise!” (Psalm 100)
Oh sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things! Psalm 98:1
Our past can inform us but should not hold us prisoner. David implored the Lord to “remember not the sins of my youth” (Psalm 25:7)
Isaiah said:
“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18-19a
And the writer of Hebrews encourages “let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Each new day is unique unto itself, whatever it may hold. Can we begin each morning by asking the Lord “what would you have me do this day, what are your plans, Lord?” (Prov. 16:3,9)
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24