“If today, if this hour, if this year has not been what you had hoped, you can begin again.”*
Those words are a breath of fresh air to my heart. Yours too?
What I love most about that reminder is this: We don’t need to wait until tomorrow to begin again.
But, boy. That isn’t always how I approach my “Gaye, why on earth did you do that? Say that?” moments.
When I’m cranky and my interactions make my crankiness quite clear, I start kicking myself for the words or tone I’ve used. Guilt and shame join me in my crankiness. And I keep kicking myself. Over and over. And of course, with all that kicking, comes more crankiness.
Another scenario that might be familiar to you:
Do you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and then can’t find your way to the right side?
Whether it’s worries or mistakes or overwhelm, I find it quite easy to stay in the gloom.
Each little inconvenience or annoyance throughout the day adds to the grumpiness.
God must have known we’d have days like this, don’t you think?
He reminds us that we do not need to stay in the cranky and gloomy. Not for one more minute.
Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19 MSG)
Beginning again is a gift when our day doesn’t go the way we thought it would.
Our days are filled with so much noise, aren’t they? Expectations. Changes. Bumps in the road.
Some of those aggravations can turn our days from joyful anticipation to the other shoe just dropped in a heartbeat.
This morning, I’m reminded that taking a breath and starting again is a gift we can open in the very next moment. We do not need to stay in those dark, moody clouds for another minute.
We can bring God into our cranky and gloomy when we’re right in the middle of it.
When we fall down, we get right back up. When we blow it, we shake ourselves off and move forward to be and do better next time. When we mess up, we claim His mercies knowing He loves us.
Let’s not create a horrible day simply because we had a horrible moment.
Whatever yesterday delivered to our hearts and homes, today we begin again.
Whatever the last hour delivered to our hearts and homes, in this hour, we begin again.
Let’s remember God’s promises. (Just a side note here: if we grew up hearing or reading these verses a lot, it’s easy to skim over them. Please consider what these promises tell us – let’s believe what they offer and apply them to our next moments.)
“I am He who wipes the slate clean and erases your wrongdoing. I will not call to mind your sins anymore.” (Isaiah 43:25 Voice)
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)
This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
Psalm 16:9-11 has been a favorite repeat in these notes the last few months. Let me tell you. If you’re looking for an encouraging promise straight from God’s heart, read these words. Kick the gloomy lies to the curb and replace them with these truths:
“This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? … You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.” (Voice)
* Leanna Tankersley wrote this note’s opening sentence. I’ll leave you with more hope-filled words from her book, Breathing Room: Letting Go So You Can Fully Live.
“If today, if this hour, if this year has not been what you had hoped, you can begin again. And, in fact, if today, if this hour, if this year was perfect, you still—must—begin again. We must wake up and choose to live in each minute, each day, each year. Moment by moment. Beginning again.”
Thanks be to God for His promises.
This page contains an Amazon affiliate link for Leanna’s book. (It’s so good!) If you purchase it through this link your cost will be the same, but I may receive a commission. I only link to books and products I personally love!
