Waiting for New Beginnings - Jesus Calling (2024)

Waiting for New Beginnings - Jesus Calling (1)

Have you ever found yourself at a new beginning?

As summer quickly comes to an end, school is about to begin,offering students and teachers a fresh start. Even if you aren’t anticipating anew school year, perhaps you’re waiting on the next big thing to happen, or maybeyou’re so caught up in this fast-paced life that you can’t keep up with whereyou have been or where you are going. You may not notice something new happeningaround you or within you.

I have been that person, the one who was unaware. But inrecent years, I’ve learned new beginnings deserve our attention, even if we haveto wait on them.

“Hold My hand and walk joyously with Me through this day…Don’t worry about what is around the bend. Just concentrate on enjoying my Presence.” –Jesus Calling, August 4

My journey of new beginnings started about 10 years ago whenGod asked my husband and I to sell our house, the only home our son had everknown. We found in that first act of obedience, God put us on a path scatteredwith unknowns and new chapters. We had no idea where we were going or what wewere doing, but God knew.

In March 2018, I faced a second new endeavor: I sold my businessof 20 years to follow my dream of writing a book. But not just any book—a bookGod asked me to write. With mixed emotions, I left my corporate life behind andentered the process of writing, editing, and publishing my first book.Exhilarated by this new adventure and terrified by the risk of it all, I wasstill unsure of where I was going. Scared to death, I stepped forward in faith,and I found myself at another new beginning.

God always knows the plans He has for us, even if we do not.We don’t have to know His plans, but we do need to walk to the path God hasplaced before us. Yes, it can be frightening to walk in the dark, but that iswhere our faith comes in. And that faith helps us tremendously, like we see inHebrews 11:1 NIV: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assuranceabout what we do not see.”

“Instead of trying to fit this day into a preconceived mold, relax and be on the lookout for what I am doing.” –Jesus Calling, March 16

As God continues to present new opportunities in my life, often I am Waiting for New Beginnings - Jesus Calling (2)unaware of them. I thought my new beginning came at the sale of our home. I had no idea that act of obedience would lead me to selling my business several years later and then writing my first book, The Me Disease.
But God knew.

And I admit, all this newness has been tough to handle attimes. However, I am comforted by the words of the Prophet Isaiah, which remindme that with every new thing, God will make a way: “See, I am doing a newthing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in thewilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:19 NIV)

Even still, the road has been hard, and I often find myselfimpatiently waiting on the next thing. Looking back, I now see prior to any newthing God is about to do, there’s a waiting period. The lesson is to learn toembrace the waiting.

In her book When the Heart Waits, Sue Monk Kiddwrites, “Whenever new life grows and emerges, darkness is crucial to theprocess. Whether it’s the caterpillar in the chrysalis, the seed in the ground,the child in the womb, or the True Self in the soul, there’s always a time ofwaiting in the dark.”

While I was writing, I learned to embrace the waiting. Godwas doing something new almost daily, it seemed, sometimes around me andsometimes within me. I learned waiting was critical to my own spiritualdevelopment and cannot be rushed. And I learned the journey is as important asthe finish. For with every ending, there is always something new emerging.

“Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me, ready to do my will.” –Jesus Calling, March 26


I wrote about this transformation in my book. “I could feel something changinginside me, a shift toward a more authentic self. I was moving back toward whoGod had created me to be. I am a disciple, a learner, and a follower of JesusChrist. That means I am the student and God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is my teacher. Iam still learning.”

As I welcome each new beginning and the waiting that comes along with it, I recognize I am that new beginning. As I continue to learn who God is and who God is in me, I am shifting toward that new creation we read about in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Today, I feel as if I am standing at another threshold. God is about to spring forth, and I am waiting. I flip open my daily devotional, Jesus Calling, for my daily dose of guidance. The words from July 14 pop out at me like a road sign pointing me home.

“Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend.” – Jesus Calling, July 14

These surprises are our new beginnings. They wait for us.And sometimes, they are us.

Waiting for New Beginnings - Jesus Calling (3)Melissa H. Thompson has many roles: wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, small business owner, church leader, community advocate, and non-profit volunteer. She and her husband Travis and their 14-year-old son Luke make their home in Thomasville, North Carolina.

You can follow Melissa through her website, www.melissahthompson.com, where you can also learn more about her book, The Me Disease.

Waiting for New Beginnings - Jesus Calling (2024)

FAQs

When God gives you a new beginning? ›

God provides you with a brand new beginning by forgiving and forgetting about (Hebrews 8:12) your past. If the past trips you up, see your past the way God does–as no more, no longer determining your future. Isaiah 43:18-19 says: “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.

What is a beautiful prayer to new beginnings? ›

I know you are my Heavenly Father who can provide me with everything I need. You know my needs before I even ask you for them. Thank you, Lord, for your new beginnings and unwavering provision. I trust that your peace will watch over me as I step into a new beginning.

What to do while waiting for God's answer? ›

What to do While Waiting on God
  • Spend Time With God Regularly. ...
  • Maintain an Attitude of Hope. ...
  • Continue Serving God. ...
  • Keep Living Your Life. ...
  • Reflect on God's Goodness in Your Life. ...
  • Look For Lessons From God. ...
  • Don't Take Matters Into Your Own Hands.
Sep 30, 2023

How do you respond to the call of Jesus? ›

We respond to the call of Christ with repentance and faith. Luke 5:32 says, “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” Repentance is a word that gets a bad rap. Oftentimes, you hear “Repent!” and it kind of shocks you a little bit, particularly if you've not heard it before.

What does Jesus say about a new beginning? ›

A new beginning awaits anyone who is willing and wanting to make Jesus Christ the Lord of their life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

How do you ask God for a new beginning? ›

Father, I receive Your transforming, renewing power in my life today. I declare that I am a new creature in Christ Jesus, I am beginning anew with You today. Help me to throw off everything that hinders me so that I may run the race and take the prize.

How do I ask God for a new life? ›

“Father God, I praise You for a fresh start and new beginning. Your Word says that Your mercies are new every day, and Your compassions never fail. Thank you for Your faithfulness; I proclaim that You are my portion! Lord, thank you for giving me a new year and spirit and making me a new creation.

What are the steps to a new beginning? ›

How do I start over in life?
  1. Start with reflection.
  2. Examine your value system.
  3. Revisit (and rewrite) your goals.
  4. Work up the courage to change.
  5. Make your next move.
  6. Get a coach.
  7. Keep checking in on yourself.

What is the powerful opening prayer? ›

We pray for open hearts and minds to receive your plans and purposes. May we be sensitive to your leading and obedient to your will. We pray that you would open our eyes to see your hand at work in every aspect of this meeting. May your Spirit guide us in making wise decisions and lead us toward the best outcomes.

How to get God to answer your prayers immediately? ›

The more precise we are with our prayers, the quicker the answers will come. That precision will always depend on our knowledge of the will of God. If God hears everything we ask “according to His will” (1 John 5:14), then the key to making a precise prayer and obtaining an immediate answer is to know His will.

What does God want while you wait for an answer? ›

“Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act.” What does God want you to do while you're waiting on an answer to your prayer? Psalm 37:7 says, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act” (NLT). God wants you to wait patiently for him to answer your prayer.

What is God doing while we wait? ›

God works while we wait. Even when you can't see what He is doing, God is always orchestrating the events of Heaven and earth to accomplish His purposes for your life. Trust in His unfailing love — love that moved Him to send a Savior from heaven to restore and rescue you.

How to answer God's calling? ›

We need to be willing to set aside our own plans and priorities and make room for God to speak.
  1. Be attentive. When God spoke to Samuel, he didn't immediately recognise it was God. ...
  2. Be humble. When Samuel finally understood that it was God calling him, he responded with humility and reverence. ...
  3. Be obedient. ...
  4. Be persistent. ...
  5. Pray.
Apr 10, 2023

How to activate God's calling? ›

Allow yourself to envision a God-sized calling.

God calls us to undertake tasks and roles in our lives that we cannot accomplish on our own so that we can see His power at work. Take intentional steps to widen your vision. Brainstorm with others how you might use your gifts in the world.

How to hear Jesus talking to you? ›

Prayer, instruction, and Scripture are the three solutions to hear the voice of Jesus.

When God gives you a fresh start? ›

Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV) says, The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning…. It's no coincidence that our time is divided into 24-hour increments. God gives us new opportunities each and every morning to start fresh!

When God gives you a new beginning, it starts with an ending.? ›

When God gives you a new beginning, it starts with an ending. Be thankful for closed doors. They often guide us to the right one!

When God makes you start over? ›

God sees all of time from beginning to end, and He tells us the same thing He told Israel back then: “Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” (Isaiah 43:18-19). Starting over is never easy. But give your concerns to the Lord.

How do you know when God is doing a new thing? ›

The prophet Isaiah urges the people to forget the former things and behold the new ways that God is changing and renewing their lives for a greater good. But in order for them to see the new things that God is doing, they must open their eyes and see God.

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