The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Growing up, I hated making mistakes. In primary school, if I messed up my writing assignments, I would toss the whole sheet of paper and start over. Starting over is hard, and frustrating. Trust me, I know that feeling all too well as a recovering perfectionist… But, as I’ve grown in Christ, I know that starting over is also a beautiful blessing.
Sometimes we can get caught up in the stress of starting over instead of truly embracing it for all its worth. We don’t see it as an opportunity to learn or try something new. We delay action due to feelings of failure, frustration, or fear.
We just started a new year and I’m sure many of you had something that you were going to try to do differently this year. At some point, that resolve falls off and you slip up and make a mistake. Now you have a choice, ‘Do I fall back to my old ways or start over?’ There will be those who give up and sink back into their old patterns. And others will forge ahead determined to make it better the next time.
When you’re on the backside of another mistake and contemplating what to do next, embrace mercy and start over. God’s mercies are new for you every day. He is full of love, compassion, and kindness. At any moment, God is there waiting to be known and experienced by you. Starting over allows you to welcome all that God has for you into the moment. It allows you to steward each second of life you’ve been given in light of God’s truth. Right now, you have been blessed with an opportunity to start afresh. Take it, do a little bit better this time, and when the inevitable mistake happens, remember God’s grace and mercy waiting for you.
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