The Power in Starting Over
There’s something both terrifying and freeing about starting over. Whether it’s beginning again after a failed relationship, a career change, moving to a new town, or even picking up the Bible after a long season away. Starting over feels like standing at the edge of something unknown. It carries the weight of what’s behind us and the hope of what’s ahead. I used to think starting over meant failure. That somehow I wasn’t strong enough, faithful enough, or disciplined enough to get it “right” the first time. But over the years, I’ve learned that starting over isn’t a mark of weakness. It’s an invitation to grace.
The Bible is filled with stories of people who had to start over:
Noah literally started over with a new world after the flood.
Moses began again at eighty years old, stepping into his calling to lead God’s people.
David fell hard in sin, but after repentance, he started over as a man after God’s own heart.
Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus restored him and gave him a new beginning.
God specializes in fresh starts. Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Every single day is a new opportunity to start over with Him.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve had to start over in my faith.
There were seasons I was on fire for God. I was praying daily, reading Scripture, and serving in church. Then there were seasons where grief, distraction, or sin pulled me away. Every time I looked up and realized how far I had drifted, shame whispered, You’ve failed too many times. Why would God want you back? The beauty of God’s grace is that He never turns away a repentant heart. Every time I’ve returned, He’s welcomed me with open arms. Just like the father of the prodigal son, He runs to meet us, no matter how many times we’ve stumbled.
Starting over in my walk with Christ hasn’t been easy any of the times I have had to do it, but it has been powerful. It’s reminded me that my relationship with Him isn’t based on perfection, but on His unchanging love.
So why does starting over really matter?
It humbles us.
Starting over reminds us that we can’t do life on our own. We need God’s strength, not just our own willpower.It resets our perspective.
Fresh starts strip away the clutter and bring us back to what matters most… Our relationship with Jesus.It builds resilience.
Every time we start over, we learn to lean on God more deeply. What once felt like failure becomes part of our testimony.It shows the world God’s grace.
When others see that we’ve stumbled but didn’t stay down, they see the power of God’s forgiveness and restoration in action.
If you’re feeling stuck or weighed down by the past, here are some ways to embrace the power of starting over.
Pray honestly. Tell God where you’ve been, where you’ve fallen, and where you long to go. He already knows. He’s just waiting for you to invite Him in.
Release the past. You can’t change what’s behind you, but you can surrender it to Jesus and let Him redeem it.
Take one step at a time. Don’t worry about running. Just take one faithful step forward today. Read a verse, whisper a prayer, and/or show up to church.
Surround yourself with encouragement. Find a community that will cheer you on and remind you that God’s mercies are new every morning.
Remember His promises. Cling to Scriptures like Isaiah 43:19: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Friend, starting over doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It means God is giving you another chance to walk with Him, grow in Him, and trust Him more deeply. The past may hold pain, mistakes, or regret, but your future is held in the hands of a God who makes all things new (Revelation 21:5). So if you’re standing at the edge of a fresh start, I encourage you to take the step. You’re not stepping into the unknown alone. You’re stepping into the arms of a faithful Father who delights in writing new chapters of your story.
With grace and gratitude,
Brianna
