The Grace of Second Chances: New Mercies for Old Dreams

How many times have you started a task, had a goal or a dream only to have it put on a shelf, or slip through your fingers almost before you had a chance to make it happen?

I remember when I set aside my own dream of writing a devotional book. After months of early mornings at my desk, a rejection letter sent my dream into a drawer where it gathered dust for nearly two years. I told myself it was fine, that maybe it wasn’t meant to be. But deep down, that dream still whispered to me.

Perhaps you’ve experienced something similar. Maybe it was a business idea that fell apart, a creative dream abandoned in the midst of family responsibilities, or even a ministry vision that didn’t take root the first time you planted it.

Here’s what I’ve learned: If you quit, if you stop, if you never try again—you have failed for certain. But if you pick up the pieces of the dream, dust off the goal or rethink the task at hand, there is another chance to make it happen!

The path forward isn’t always straightforward. Health challenges might surface. Family needs can demand our attention. Sometimes our doubts speak louder than our confidence. These obstacles are real, not imaginary, and saying what bubbles under the surface takes courage.

But consider this: Our God specializes in new beginnings. Remember Sarah, who became a mother in her nineties? Or Moses, who led an exodus at eighty? Their stories weren’t defined by initial setbacks but by faithful persistence.

As Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV) reminds us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

This isn’t just a neat tidy story—it’s practical truth. Each new day brings fresh grace from the throne of God given to sustain us. His faithfulness means we never need to go it alone.

So how do we begin again in a practical way?

Revisit and refine. Take that shelved dream and look at it with fresh eyes. What pats still resonate? What needs adjustment based on your current season?

Start small. Break down that overwhelming goal into one small action you can take this week.

Find a cheerleader. Share your desire to start again with someone who will both encourage you and hold you accountable.

Anticipate the messy parts. What derailed you before? Name them and create a simple plan for when (not if) they arise again.

Don’t quit.

Don’t ever stop.

Don’t give up.

Ever.

Not because persistence is a virtue in itself, but because the God who placed those dreams in your heart is the same God whose mercies are made new for you each morning.

This week, I invite you to pull out one shelved dream and simply hold it in prayer. (It feels fragile… I get it! )

Ask God if it’s time to try again—and if it is, what one small step you might take.

What dream are you ready to dust off?

Do you need some help? Let’s talk about what it would like to be brave together! More info here!

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