One of the great qualities of humans is our ability to start over. When mistakes happen or when we’ve come to a turning point in our lives, we have the ability to start over. Even when the odds seem insurmountable, we can begin again.
We can changes vocations, move to another city, go back to school, etc. All the while seeking to start over.
The article “How Often Do People Change Jobs?”1 on about.com says that the average person will change jobs 11 to 15 times in their lifetime. While this isn’t true of everyone, there are many for whom this is a reality.
There are some people who work for the same company for a number of years. For example, I worked for one corporation for 14 years. But during those years I held a number of positions. So even though I was still working for the same corporation, I was still starting over in new positions.
This isn’t true for everyone. There are some people who find their niche or sweet spot and flourish. I would bet that even they would say that they have had plenty of times when they have started over.
So it seems starting over is a part of the human experience. Each day we have the opportunity to begin again. We all fall down but its our God given ability to get up and start over that makes us unique and special.
If you’re in a place where you are starting over, here are a couple of Bible verses to keep in mind.
Proverbs 1:7 NASB
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and instruction.Proverbs 3:5-10 NASB
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
And do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
8 It will be healing to your body
And refreshment to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD from your wealth
And from the first of all your produce;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty
And your vats will overflow with new wine.James 4:13-17 NASB 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” 14 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” 16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.
We can start over and make plans but it is important to keep God in the focus of our plans. Note that in Proverbs 1:7 it says that the beginning of wisdom, not spiritual wisdom but wisdom, is the fear of the Lord. If you start making plans there, you can’t go wrong.
1 Doyle, Alison. “How Often Do People Change Jobs?” about.com. Web. 11 June 2014.
