Do-Over

You wake up and somehow something has happened that grants you a do-over – a chance to get a moment or a lifetime back.

You know those stories with the twist where all those things you stress over or regret or that caused such pain were just a dream and now you can proceed with the beauty of hindsight and a fresh start.

Have you ever had that wish?

Sometimes the past can replay in our minds and keep us bound by a memorized collection of yesterdays.

We are not what has happened in the past. The Bible says that when we are in Christ we are a new creation, the old is gone, the new is here. (II Corinthians 5:17)

It is difficult to move beyond things that frighten us. Often times, fear is what drives our obsession over the past, fear that will captivate the present and pollute thoughts of the future. But our God is bigger than what scares us and nothing can separate us from the love of God. He is our covering.

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” Psalm 9:9-10

God does not want us to be under the yoke of fear. This has probably been the most difficult thing for me to fight against in my life – fear. It can poison everything if we let it take over.

This verse is one we probably all already know, but it is powerful, still.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

Our beginnings, our present, and our future days all belong to Him. He alone can make beauty from ashes.

I am teary-eyed at just the thought of the indescribable mercy He bestows upon us. Yes, we all have made errors that have carried weight, and yes, we all have experienced loss and deep pain beyond our control. Those issues of life shape us and can give us our own unique lens through which to gauge the past and what happens from here, but those experiences do not define who we are.

God knows mankind’s frailty and wants to set us free from the weight of our brokenness. We are whole and healed in Him, not in anything that we can ever bring or avoid or redo.

In our brokenness, we learn to lean on Him, to hide beneath His wing, to let Him carry us. Maybe our broken places are nothing to fear after all.

He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. We are never beyond His reach or out of His sight. Where can we go where He is not there? (Psalm 139:7-12)

He will see that our stories are not wasted, that we are His hands and feet to love, bless, comfort and care for those in need – in His name and in His love.

We don’t need a do-over, we only need our Lord who breathes new life into broken places.