You can start again!

Some people grow through failure. Others never recover from it; they talk about the past all the time because they can't get beyond it. How can we start again? See our mistakes as stepping-stones rather than stumbling blocks!

'How do we do that?' By doing three things. (1) We must push! We have to push through emotions like: Regret - 'If only I hadn't failed;' Frustration - 'I thought my idea was great, but they didn't;' Self-pity - 'They hurt me so I will just sit here and lick my wounds;' Paralysis - 'I will never get beyond this.' When it comes to emotions, the only way out is pushing through! (2) We must bounce! Solomon says, 'Even if good people fall seven times, they will get back up' (Proverbs 24:16 CEV). If we fall, will we bounce back up and try again? (3) We must remember! There's only one way - God's way! Samson blew it by getting too close to the wrong woman (see Judges 16). Jonah blew it by trying to run from God's call (see Jonah 1:3). Peter blew it by denying his Lord (See Matthew 26:74). But God used all of them eventually - when they were willing to do it his way. So let's not blow it by thinking our way is better than God's.

So what now? With God there is release from the past through forgiveness; and the moment you accept that forgiveness, you only have a future. You're free to push, bounce and remember through your failure! You can start again!

— SCRIPTURE —

'With you there is forgiveness.' Psalm 130:4 NIV
— SOULFOOD —

Isa 49-52, John 8:12-20, Ps 123, Pro 28:23-24