One thing about me is that I am a very routine person. I like systems, structures and plans. I like a consistent weekly timetable that I can follow. I thrive in consistency so much that I sometimes have the same thing for breakfast all week – oats. In fact, if I could wear the same outfit every single day like a cartoon character, trust me I would lol.

But life doesn’t always fit into our structures, doesn’t it? This year, at the age of 28, I have found myself starting over in multiple facets of my life. New career, new geographical location, new friendships, new opportunities, you name it. If I’m being honest, that threw me off my square. Life as I have known it for most of my 20s has completely changed and I’ve had to quickly adapt and adjust to what life looks like now. I’m trying not to be like Lot’s wife – longing for the past instead of looking towards the future.

As the kids these days would say, I’m in my starting over era. There are few Bible characters that I have been learning from as I navigate this season I’m in and I’d like to introduce you to them:

Abraham – Starting over as a result of obedience.

When we first meet Abraham in Genesis 11, his name is Abram. The Bible gives us a brief history of his genealogy and then quickly takes us to Genesis 12 where Abram is told to move from his country, family and his father’s house and go to a land that God would show him. Just like that. No forewarning. No blueprint. No roadmap. Just get up and go!

Abram quickly obeyed and took his wife and his nephew, Lot, his servants and his possessions and he left. At this point, he was 75 years old. He must have already formed a particular lifestyle by this age that would have become familiar and comfortable for him. But he chose to leave all that and start over based on one instruction from God. I know I would’ve had many questions – Lord, where are we going? How long is it going to take? Who is going to be there? Most times we don’t take faith steps because we are waiting for God to show us the destination but often God says get up and go and then I’m going to show you as you go. We have it backwards!

Abram’s story shows us that life is a journey of yeses. He gave God one yes to leave his people but there was an even greater Yes in his future – the Yes to offer the son he loved, Isaac, as a sacrifice (Genesis 22). Although he didn’t have to go through with the sacrifice, it was this test that confirmed his fear of and faith in God. We know Abraham as the father of faith but we have to realise that he would never have earned this title unless he was willing to obey God and start over.

Jonah – Starting over as a result of disobedience.

I am embarrassed to admit but I have been Jonah so many times in my life. God gives me an instruction, I don’t like the instruction, I try to run away from the instruction then God causes my life to flip upside down and then I finally surrender and do what God wanted me to do in the first place.

Jonah was a prophet that was sent to the city of Nineveh to warn them about their wickedness. Jonah immediately disobeyed and got on a ship to go to Tarshish instead, trying to run away from the presence of God. Well, God sent a storm that rocked the ship Jonah was on. Everyone on the ship was panicking but Jonah was sound asleep. (Jonah 1). Sometimes we get so used to ignoring God’s Word and don’t even realise how easily we have drifted into deep spiritual slumber. What intrigued me was that Jonah’s disobedience affected everyone who was around him. Even though the other people on the ship didn’t believe in YHWH, the one and true living God, they still faced the consequences of God’s prophet not obeying God’s instructions. Who knows what storm the people around you are going through simply because you refuse to obey God.

They woke Jonah up and he admitted that he was the reason they were going through the storm. Jonah asked them to throw him into the sea and as soon as they did, the storm ceased (Jonah 2). What followed was Jonah having a 3 day unwanted staycation in the belly of a fish where he spent the whole time repenting. The fish then vomited him out after the 3 days.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.

Jonah 3:1-3 NKJV

One thing I love about starting over after disobedience is that when we repent, God is so gracious and merciful and will send His Word to us a second time. God repeated the same instruction that Jonah had received at the beginning. This time Jonah obeyed immediately. Maybe you are now starting that business after years of telling God no. Maybe you are finally obeying God and starting the degree you always knew you were called to. Maybe you finally got out of that toxic relationship and are now single. Whatever it looks like, be encouraged. We serve a gracious and loving Father who is ready to hold our hands and walk us through our journey of starting over.

The Israelites – Starting over as a result of continuous idolatry.

Am I the only one who reads about the Israelites and thinks “Guys, can’t you get it together?” The story of the Israelites looks something like this: They cry out to God, God rescues them, they worship other idols, they face God’s wrath, they repent and turn to God again and then repeat the cycle all over again.

An idol is anything that you love more than your obedience to God. That could literally be anything – a career, people, material possessions, habits and many more. Before you judge the Israelites, take a look at your own life. Yeah, maybe you’ve never worshipped a golden calf, but how many times have you held on to something that God told you to let go of? How many times have you told God no when you knew for sure He was calling you to something different? I know I have many times.

God in His mercy allows us to go through the consequences of idolatry to show us that the idols in our lives can never satisfy us. You might end up dating the same kind of toxic guy or girl in a different body and with a different name. You keep getting rejections on your job applications because God wants you to stay at that job you hate, because He still has a purpose for you there. You’ve started and closed down multiple business because you keep refusing to build them according to God’s blueprint.

Aren’t you tired of running in circles? Aren’t you exhausted starting over and over again with the same outcome? God is inviting us to examine our hearts and identify the idols we regard. Then once we know what these idols are, to repent for worshipping them instead of God, renouncing any agreement we made with them and returning to our covenant with God. As someone who is now starting over after a continuous streak of idolatry, I can tell you for sure – It’s worth starting over with God!!!!

After yet another streak of rebellion that led to captivity for the Israelites, this is how good it felt for them to start over:

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion (Jerusalem), We were like those who dream [it seemed so unreal]. Then our mouth was filled with laughter And our tongue with joyful shouting; Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; We are glad!

Psalms 126:1-3 AMP

Are you ready to start over?

Prayer:

Lord, this life is going to present us with opportunities to start over with you, whether as a faith step in obedience, as a correction from disobedience or as our way of laying down idols. Thank You Lord for sending your Holy Spirit to live in us and to help us to start over. Lord, we pray that You give us the strength and the grace to start over. To trust You even when we can’t see where You are leading us. To constantly check with You so we know what next step to take and to testify and encourage others that starting over with You is always worth it. In Jesus Name, Amen.