Beginnings
The “Art of Beginning Again”, based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians and other supporting scriptures, was recently explored by Pastor Drew Shofner, Sr. Pastor at the Church at Severn Run. Pastor Shofner concluded that life is about “new beginnings” and “beginning again,” a truth God has woven into the very rhythm of creation and life. Beginning again requires that we:
- Focus on Jesus
- Embrace humility
- Be teachable
- Let go of the past
- Choose faith over feelings
- Invite change
- Persevere
Let us explore for ourselves the Bible insights Pastor Shofner used to illustrate his message.
God creates hopeful beginnings, filling them with possibility, life, and potential. Imagine if life were just one long day without night or change. God loves growth and change, so He created new beginnings. From the very start in Genesis 1:3-5, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He separated light from darkness, creating the first day. This rhythm of life – with days, weeks, months, years, and seasons – reflects God’s love for new beginnings.
Each season brings change. Many of us have a favorite season—some love fall, others winter, spring, or summer. Regardless of our preferences, we can’t stop the rhythms of new seasons. Even winter, which might not be everyone’s favorite, has its own beauty and possibilities. All seasons transition into one another, reflecting God’s design for growth and renewal. Even at the end of time, it’s just a new beginning. Revelation 21:5 says, “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!'” When everything seems to be ending, it’s actually preparing for a new beginning. Heaven is not a boring, lifeless routine but an eternal, hopeful beginning crafted by God.
However, we live in a sinful, broken world, and sin brings hopeless endings where God desires hope-filled beginnings. Understanding sin is crucial. Sin isn’t a trivial mistake or a naughty act; it’s as serious as death. Sin kills life. This is why God hates it. God’s commandments, like telling a child not to play in traffic or not to poke a screwdriver into an electrical socket, are meant to keep us alive and safe. We need a new attitude towards sin, recognizing it as death and understanding that it disconnects us from the author of life.
John 1:4 says, “In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” Without a relationship with God’s Son, we are living in darkness. Romans 6:23 tells us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Proverbs 14:12 warns, “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.”
When life feels lifeless and relationships end, it’s easy to feel hopeless. But God is the God of beginning again. Our lives are like books with new chapters and pages. We have no need to get stuck rereading old chapters but can turn the page for new beginnings. Despite the trauma and pain in our lives, in God’s hands, these can become new beginnings.
If we are discouraged today, feeling at a dead end, we can remember that Revelation 3:8 says, “Behold, I have set before you an open door that no one can shut.” Only we can miss these opportunities by not believing in them. If we are looking at our future and it seems hopeless, we can know that in Jesus, we each get to choose how our endings end. They can end in defeat or in new beginnings with Jesus.
In Philippians 3:10-14, Paul, from his prison cell, shares some of the most hopeful verses in the New Testament. Despite his circumstances, Paul offers a roadmap to navigate through life’s dead ends. These words are not just for the church at Philippi 2,000 years ago but are for us today, in our hurts and hopelessness. God speaks these words to encourage us to let Him turn the page in our lives.
Paul’s focus in prison was on Jesus, not on his circumstances. If we want a new beginning, we can choose to focus on Jesus. Not just a little, but let Jesus be the consuming focus of our lives. It’s not about having everything together but about being desperate for Jesus. Jesus turns hopeless endings into courageous beginnings. To experience new beginnings, we must also humble ourselves and become teachable. Paul says in Philippians 3:12-13 that he hasn’t achieved everything yet but continues to press on. Humility means being open to learning from God.
Letting go of our stuck points is essential. We often hold on to our hurts, pains, and traumas, but in Jesus, we can let go and move forward. Isaiah 43:18-20 tells us to forget the former things because God is doing a new thing. He makes a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.
Finally, we must choose faith over feelings and find our fight. Paul presses on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called him. We need to make hard choices and press on, knowing that Jesus has taken hold of us and is lifting us up.
Today, let us choose to focus on Jesus, humble ourselves, let go of our sticking points, and choose faith over feelings. God is the God of new beginnings, and He has woven newness into every aspect of life. In Jesus, hopeless endings become courageous beginnings.
JG