beginning

We all love a happy ending, don’t we?  Our world is rich with amazing books and stories and songs and films.  We love their brutal battles and their twisty plots.  We love their valiant victories, hard-learned lessons, and  heart-wrenching love sagas.  But above all else, we love their happy endings.

I think it is no coincidence that we are a culture – a people- seemingly wired with the need for something to believe in; a hope, a dream, a happy ending. Lucky for us, the greatest story ever told has the happiest ending of all. But before there can be a happy ending, there must first be a beginning.  And lucky for us (yet again,) the greatest story ever told has the best beginning and the most beginnings of all.

From the very first sentence of “In the beginning…” and then all the way through to the happy ending, the Bible is quite simply the story of people (very real and messed up people) beginning again.  And while I love that our God has woven us a story steeped in victories and promising a happy ending, I am possibly even more grateful that He thought to weave in a thousand  million new beginnings all along the way. Chapter after chapter, book after book, story after story, new testament and old – God is a God of beginnings.

Culturally, we look at the New Year as a time for new beginnings.  At a time of year when we are all making vows (and likely already breaking many of them) to be new and better at all kinds of things, I love that God’s kind of new can’t be put on a spreadsheet or vision board.  Unlike many of our other resolutions, his isn’t a newness/betterment that is contingent upon our own (inconsistent) white-knuckled effort.  Instead, God’s newness is a promise that is already coming true and working within each and every one of us believers right now. And (thank goodness for this) it comes true not because of us, but in spite of us.

In talking to friends and family, it seems some of the biggest changes we all want in our lives are relational and spiritual in nature.  And as Christians, we are admonished to grow in our love and understanding of others and of God.  So over the years, I have carried along a great deal of guilt and frustration that these areas have been the very hardest to mold into something new.  Each year, often only days into my resolution, I would find myself failing myself on some level and fighting that same bitterness or impatience that has plagued me throughout my life and my walk.  I simply haven’t ever found the moxie to break through some of my old habits and overcome them on my own.

But then, sometime last year, came the epiphany: I can try all I want and work all I want towards these things.  But real change – heart change – comes not from my effort, but from my surrender.

Sure, there are little things I can do like get involved in church or study scripture or find a way to serve.  And I certainly have to do my part and make the effort to spend more time with him, in his word, and in his truth.  But the real change happens only when I surrender to him – not in action, but in heart.  I can’t just DO church, scripture or service.  I must BECOME them. By abandoning my heart to him, then (and only then) the change begins.

It must come from the inside out.

If you feel like you want to begin again – to become something new – I have great news for you.  No one loves a beginner more than God does.  He offers unlimited grace and kindness and if you have never given your life to him, now is a perfect time to take that first step and begin the Genesis of your faith.  Just tell God that you need his new beginning and that you believe in the happy ending that He has promised the world through his Son, Jesus. If you need someone to talk to or pray with about this, reach out to me and I will gladly do so.

And if you are already a believer and have wandered a bit off-path or just want to weave a little hope and victory back into your story, I have good news for you (and me) too.  Again, God never runs out of grace or newness, and His mercy is unending. Now is the perfect time to begin again by walking away from our own inconsistent white-knuckle effort and surrender to his will and refinement.

From Genesis to Revelation, and from the day we were born until the last breath we take, who God is never changes.  But who we are can and will change when we surrender it all to him.  Let us begin again on our journey to redemption this new year.

Our happy ending is waiting.

•   •   •   •   •

Scripture:

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” – Revelation 21: 5

Music:

A thousand times I’ve failed – still Your mercy remains
And should I stumble again – I’m caught in Your grace
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

In my heart and my soul – I give You control
Consume me from the inside out
Lord, let justice and praise become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Your will above all else – my purpose remains
The art of losing myself – in bringing You praise
Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending,  Your glory goes beyond all fame

…And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, Lord my soul cries out

– From the Inside Out by Hillsong

 Application:

What in your life needs a new beginning before it can have a happy ending?  Your relationship with God? With someone else? With yourself?  Surrender to God and ask for his help bringing new life to you in this area so that healing can come.