COURAGE FOR A FRESH START!​

By Helen Jesze, 11th September 2015

“…forgetting what lies behind… I press on toward the goal…”

Philippians 4, 13 and 14

We were once at a wedding. The bride was radiant in pale green satin and a feather stole, and the groom looked smart in a light grey suit with a white rose in his button­hole. The service was beautiful and who minded if the bridal pair did not get up quite so nimbly as some young ones after the blessing, for they were in their ​seventies?! It only added to the fun and a ripple of amusement went round the some two hundred guests!

Every wedding is special but this one had some unique hallmarks, for the bride had been widowed, sold her house and shortly after moving into a new apartment, met her future bridegroom. She invited him to church, he accepted Christ as his Saviour and now they are making history!

Why have I put this title? Because it takes ​courage to start again. We are often confronted with the choice of going on the same old path, doing the same things, perhaps seeing ourselves as a victim of circumstances, ​or striking out into something fresh, writing a new page in the book of our life. Many would think it does not take courage to find romance and marry again, yet I have often heard people say they would not marry again after their partner dies, for there might be sickness and they might have to look after an invalid later on. This could be true, but not necessarily so. You might live to a ripe old age with no illness, and look at the years of love and companionship you could have had!

China, here I come!

Another friend had become very disappointed with her job as a teacher, feeling worn out with the disrespect, violence and lack of motivation of her students. Her husband had just left her after years of unfaithfulness, and the future looked bleak.

“Betty, you’ve got several years before retiring. Have you ever had a dream or desire to do something entirely different? ” I asked her.

“O, yes! I’ve always wanted to go and work in ​China​!” she shot back.

“Why don’t you pray about it? If God doesn’t say ​No​, make enquiries. ​Go for it!” I encouraged her. Soon I heard the news she had sold her house in the pine­ forest, the divorce had gone through and she had been accepted to teach in a university in China!

Now Betty has been there for over twelve years. From time to time she sends photos showing her with some of the many Chinese friends she has made, and is often invited to their homes for special Chinese festivals. Her students love her and she is still teaching, although past retirement age, and loving every minute.

Failure does not have to be final

Sometimes we have already tried to do something, but without success. It did not turn out as we had thought, and it seems we have failed. The young man John Mark was like that. Going on a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas, things were too hot for him. You know, there is a saying: If you can’t stand the heat in the kitchen, then get out! That is what John Mark did – he gave up and went home in disgrace.

Later, when Paul and Barnabas were going on another missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them again, but Paul was totally against it. He failed the first time and we don’t need him with us! The disagreement between them was so strong that Paul took Silas with him instead, and Barnabas took John Mark on their respective missionary journeys.

Mark was faced with the challenge of starting again, of picking up the pieces, dusting himself down and looking to God for new strength to keep going, when things were difficult. It must have taken courage for him to go again; perhaps others ridiculed and scoffed at him. But this time God linked him with Barnabas, whose name means “the son of encouragement” or “the son of consolation”, and he took him under his wing. Barnabas was willing to take the risk and to help this young man make a new start, to help him develop as a person and also spiritually. John Mark’s new start bore rich fruit, for in 2 Timothy 4, 11 we read how Paul asks for John Mark to be brought to him, for he was helpful, useful, profitable to Paul in his ministry. Further, Christian tradition says that one of the Books of the Bible was written by this young man – ​the Gospel of Mark!

Perhaps you need to make a fresh start in some area of your life. Ask God to show you how to do it, to give you creative ideas, to give you courage where you may have failed in the past. Do you need to go back to school or college, start a business or work in a new area? God may be calling you to some type of ministry, to serve Him in a totally different way than you have done in the past, but you have not yet said, “Yes”.

God will always give us the strength and ability to do those things He has shown us. We could not walk so He gave us legs. He provided air for us to breathe. Every problem or need that could arise in our life, God has already prepared a solution for it, we just need to find it. God may put a “Barnabas” with you to mentor, teach and help you. Throw off the regrets and memories of past failures and disappointments, and accept this new start God is holding out to you. So if you are in that position today, ​let me encourage you to go for it!​ God will give you strength and courage, for ​He is the God of the new start!

Prayer:

Father God, help me to hear what you are saying to me about this new start. Thank you for giving me courage and wisdom to face and accept this new challenge. I expect to be amazed at what you are going to do in me, for me and through me, as I walk this way, that not only I will be blessed, but you will make me an even greater blessing for others.
In the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.