“See, I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:5).
Perhaps you’ve heard of Andy Andrews. At the age of 19, he lost both of his parents within the span of a few weeks—his mother to cancer, his father in a tragic car accident. Homeless and unprepared to meet the challenges of life on his own, Andy found himself living under an ocean pier and in neighborhood garages. As the weeks went by, he began to ask himself deeper questions:
• How did I get here?
• What am I doing here?
• What do I need to change to give my life a different direction?
• What is the life philosophy that I will live by that will shape my future?
Out of this time of heartache, Andy began using his best gifts—including humor and speaking—to shape a new life for himself. In time, he became a great entertainer, an internationally known motivational leader and a best-selling author. It all began with a fresh start after a personal tragedy.
Many of us can feel beaten down by life, but unwilling to change direction. We can feel that life has cheated us, but not take the steps to change our lives. We can get stuck in a rut, but never see other opportunities, other paths, are available. Teenagers, especially, can fall into this trap.
Perhaps fresh starts are in order for most of us. It’s not a bad thing to begin again, to try some new venture. With God’s help, we often can discover gifts and talents we never knew we had. We form new friendships. Life can begin to look up, most especially after hardship.
Don’t overlook new beginnings. After all, God is always doing a new thing. God is always looking to do a new thing in us, too.
