At The Feet Of The Shepherd: When You Have To Start Over

Many who will read this are in the process of having to start over right now. Not the kind of fresh start where you step out toward dreams bright eyed and full of wonder, but you are starting over because life has taken an unexpected turn and you must start over. Things haven't turned out as you planned. The ending was wrong, or it was too soon. A life-changing diagnosis or disability, the death of a spouse or child, the loss of a career; the end of a friendship or relationship. The things that provoke "Why?" and "Why me?" questions, and almost never have answers. Starting over is necessary in these cases, but it is left up to each person how they will start over. Your responses, reactions, and your trust in God make all the difference at this point. You can become bitter and disillusioned, or you can decide to trust God one step at a time, grieving, healing, and hoping in Him.

Every Christian will encounter a lot of hardship and trials in this life. Your actions and attitudes must be deeply rooted upon the commands and promises of the word of God so as not to be overcome by the storms that will beat against you. Jesus said,

Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:47-49

The Christian who has experienced the sudden, the unthinkable, the crushing of hopes and plans and dreams, is in a position to grasp that there is nothing lasting outside of a relationship with God. The failure of our best plans can move us to radically surrender our lives with total abandon to whatever the will of God will decide next. It is for times like these that the promises of God are given to you as a life buoy:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35,37-39, NLT

The promises are given, and they are sure. But we must believe them if we are to start over well, and see God do what is impossible for us, bringing victory out of trial. Even in hardships permitted, there is an end intended by the Lord. He has a plan to turn that thing for His glory and your good. If you will trust Him and continue to obey, He will make the whole of your life bring praise to the glory of His grace. Job's excruciating trial detailed in 42 chapters let us know that God is not unfeeling towards the suffering of His servants. This trial was not the end of his story but brought a new start. It brought renown to God, a witness to others from Job's life more than ever before, and deepened Job's knowledge, fear, and love of God.

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
James 5:10-11

The Scriptures record outlines of various lives that were thrust into a whirlwind of the unplanned and unexpected. Take courage from the word of God as you read these stories including that of Noah, Job, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Esther, Daniel and others.

All these things happened to them as examples for others, and they were written down as a warning for us. For we live at a time when the end is about to come. If you think you are standing firm you had better be careful that you do not fall. Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
1 Corinthians 10:11-13,GNT

God is not finished with you. Go to His word and get new strength and vision. Trust in Him who loves you.

Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him

For the help of His countenance.

O my God, my soul is cast down within me;

Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,

And from the heights of Hermon,

From the Hill Mizar.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;

All Your waves and billows have gone over me.

The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,