7 Encouraging Bible Verses About Starting Over
A towering hemlock casts a sleepy shadow on bare earth, and a pine squirrel gnaws on a walnut from its unseen perch overhead. I am in the woods with a stack of books and a journal—intent on seeking God and as I ask him how to begin again after a setback in my life. Opening my Bible, I begin listing the words of Truth, composing a list of Bible verses about starting over.
Bible Verses About Starting Over
Here are the Scriptures I find. Be sure to read to the end of today’s post for a free devotional eBook to help you draw near to God as you begin again.
7 Bible Verses About Starting Over
1. Isaiah 43:18-19, ESV
Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
2. Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
3. Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
4. Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
5. Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
6. Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
7. Psalm 138:8
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Let’s Apply These Bible Verses About Starting Over to Our Lives
I invite you to join me in the woods as I share my reflections on these verses.
As springtime sunlight floods the forest, it feels like a day to lean into new beginnings.
I’ve been feeling restless lately. I’ve been trying to write and struggling to find words. I wonder, Is this God’s way of redirecting my path?
I’m mulling this over as I open the thin pages of my Bible, and I read the following words: “Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were on the first scroll” (Jeremiah 36:28, AMP).
The passage jumps off the page as if God penned it directly for me.
In context, these are God’s words to the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah recently offered a warning to God’s people, telling them to repent. When King Jehoiakim of Judah heard the words, he had the scroll burned.
Calling Baruch, his scribe, Jeremiah declares that it is time to rewrite the message. It is time to begin again.
How to Begin Again
The words leap off the page because not long ago, I poured my heart into a big writing project that essentially went up in ashes.
“Where do I go from here?” I asked God.
God didn’t provide an immediate sense of direction. Instead, I sensed him walking with me through my disappointment and healing my heart.
As I sit beneath the hemlock many months after my scrolls went up in ashes, I sense God speaking, “Take another scroll, and begin again.”
I’m not sure I want to begin again. Starting over can be exciting and hopeful, but it can also feel terrifying. Permitting ourselves to hope again after our dreams have been crushed isn’t easy. It feels safer to guard our hearts and give up on hope.
I wonder if you can relate. What have you labored over, only to see it rise in ashes?
If God has called you to this assignment, he just might ask you to begin again. He just might ask you to return to the job you don’t like, keep investing in the difficult marriage, faithfully parent the rebellious child, or continue chasing the dream that fell apart.
It’s also important to note that there’s a time for moving on and going in a new direction.
I’ve been known to stay in one place for far too long out of routine and comfort.
However, there is also a time to return to the God-given dream and begin again.
How do we begin again when we’re not sure we have it in us?
Let’s talk about it.
How to Begin Again: 3 Practical Ways
1. We ask God to show us the first step.
When trying to determine how to begin again after a difficult setback, it can be hard to know where to start.
I’ve learned that these are the moments when I most need God to work in my life and accomplish what I cannot do on my own.
Have you ever noticed that willpower can be a tough motivator when you’re not sure how to begin again or whether you even want to try? In these moments, we stop leaning on willpower; instead, we run to the arms of the Father who is waiting to show us the way.
Ask God to show you where to start and turn to him for direction. He will show you.
2. We follow God’s direction.
Second, we follow where the Father leads. We only do what we see him doing.
Do you sense God calling you to take a step of faith? Follow him.
Has he opened a door no one else could open? Walk through it.
Is he asking you to do the hard work of starting over? Take the first step today.
Beginning again might feel like hard work; however, God will reward you as you step out to follow him.
3. We lean into the transformation that happens on the journey.
Third, when starting over, we trust that the journey matters far more than the outcome.
Starting over can be hard, but there is beauty in the process of beginning again. God is with us in the process. Instead of sprinting toward the finish line, we stay in step with the Spirit of the Living God, and we keep our eyes open for the beauty woven into the process.
You might feel discouraged as you step into this new beginning. Nevertheless, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Keep doing the next thing as God places it in front of you. God will transform your heart as you follow him.
The journey matters far more than the outcome of the journey. #newbeginnings Share on XWhat does it look like to live this out in the various realms we inhabit?
A Fresh Take on New Beginnings
At the end of the day, is this not all we really have: An invitation to arise and begin again tomorrow—trusting that God’s mercies really are new each morning? And maybe beginning again isn’t all that bad after all.
Maybe it’s less like a monotonous task repeated in an endless cycle and more like a second chance to start fresh.
Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
Calling All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Find Peace in God’s Presence
I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. I also offer a library of free online devotional eBooks for free. I invite you to explore the collection right here!
