New Beginnings

 

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Spring is a time of new beginnings and surprises, thawing what was once frozen inside. As you hear the birds sing in the morning and evening, you are filled with awe. Flowers push their little shoots up through the ground where they were once buried in the dark. Leaves cover the trees with fresh green shade. The roots go deep, and the branches lift towards heaven, as if rejoicing and praising the Creator. The sound of children playing is carried on the wind. Long walks in nature, chatting with friends over coffee at a local coffee shop, and sipping a cup of hot coffee while wrapped in a jacket to watch the sun rise – spring is like a gift that has been unwrapped for us to enjoy.

Spring is a life season too; we all start over somewhere, with something. When we fall, we get back up and begin again. You might be in the season of hope or the winter season in your life. If you are, know that spring always comes again, and it will come again, yes, even for you.

Notice how sometimes spring arrives, and it's so beautiful, but then there's more snow or more frost and another freeze? But when all that is over and spring is truly here, oh, it's so perfect!

When you begin again, life throws both challenges and pleasant surprises your way. Look at it this way: The good surprises, the early spring. The not-so-great surprises, the frost and freezes before you can truly be in spring. Without those frosts and freezes, that season is never really there; the ground isn't going to be soft enough for any plants to push their way through. You will recover and get through those times, and you will once again be filled with awe over your life.

Sometimes what is frozen inside isn't yet ready to give and thaw; keep on loving yourself through it all. That frost and freeze will eventually leave, and you will be able to have real growth through this. Life will sing; you'll have a song in your heart, a song that God puts there for you.

Just like the plants and flowers must push up through the ground and the dirt, you too have perhaps been buried in the dark for so long, dragged through the dirt and the mud? Feelings of being invisible? That's because it's the start of something beautiful. You will rise from the ground, pushing your way through the dirt for a breath of fresh air. In the dark ground, that's where a seed was planted and began to sprout. Now you can begin to grow. Just like that seed and sprout were invisible, when it comes up and opens, the world sees a miracle! You! You are a miracle; you survived; you will survive. You will grow and come through this. This is your season!

As you grow and learn, you become a shade for others who are where you once were. Your roots are still where they are, and they go in deeper and deeper, so you can reach others who are hurting, so you can say, "I did it; you can too."

Lift up your hands to praise the creator! Rejoice! He has been your shade and shelter through this all. The roots, the vine, and the branches all connect, and you have a God who shelters you but wants you to grow. So He created plants to start beneath the ground to show you how to grow and how to come through the dirt and into light and beauty.

Growth is often challenging, but it's worth the effort. Don't give up.

Going for a walk, listening to the birds, the wind, watching nature around you with awe is sometimes the best therapy in the world. It definitely is when you are trying to have a new beginning. Take time to look to God as he will always be your shelter and helper. He is rooting for you on this journey! He knows you've got this! I'm rooting for you because I know you've got this! Push up through that dirt and open up to rejoice!

When I look at nature, I am in total awe. I just wonder how some say there is no God because there definitely is. Look at the details, look at the beauty, look at how so many things were created in such a way to encourage us and for us to learn from, and you can't tell me there isn't a God. God created Springtime for new beginnings, for the earth and for you. He created the plants to come up through the dirt so you would know that you sprout beneath, in the dark, but then you go up through that dirt. Literally everything, literally! Take a closer look and begin again, begin afresh, begin like the renewing of the day with morning dew, looking up to God and rejoicing, rejoicing over a new day with no mistakes yet made, over a new day, a new start, a new beginning.

I understand all too well the fear of beginning something new or starting over. It's hard to keep putting yourself out there over and over again. The more you get pushed down, mess up, shut down, rejected, it makes it all the harder, but keep on putting yourself out there, keep on reaching out, keep on getting up and dusting off the dust and starting again.

Just recently, I went in for my Social Studies test, and I passed it! It took a lot of work; it was hard for me, it was scary, and it most certainly wasn't easy. That leaves three more subjects in the GED for me to complete. And it's better to try and know than never try and always wonder what if? I always struggle though when it's not perfect because I always want it to be perfect. I also began writing a book not that long ago that I felt God calling me to write; it's not been easy, there have been times that I haven't wanted to, but that's out of fear of if I could even do it. I always seem to think that someone else would be much better at it. But when I work on it, even when I feel like I'm not sure if I'll be able to write it well enough, I feel at peace and I enjoy it. Honestly, I never knew how much I loved writing! When God calls you to something, something new even, you'll be at so much peace following His lead even when it's difficult. I hope that God speaks to those reading what I write through the words here on this page.

Then sometimes for a new beginning, there has to be an end to something, something old, something that prevents God and His calling in your life, or even just having a good relationship with Him. Sometimes without an end to something, you can't have a fresh start, and that Spring in your life and that new beginning can't happen. I've had to end a few things so that I could have a new blooming beginning in my life. In a previous post, I had mentioned being in a relationship. I had to end that relationship; my relationship with God was being affected, and I was putting God on the back burner, not spending the time with God that I had previously spent with Him. I was no longer as happy, and I was struggling with more depression and anxiety over things. It was not easy ending the relationship; I spent a lot of time in prayer and thought about it. I didn't want to cause him any hurt or pain. But realizing it was better sooner than later. I also spoke with people who I value their wisdom very dearly before making my decision. But in the end, I had to do what was best for me and follow God's leading for my life. It's okay to do what's best for you; if you constantly do what's best for others or do what makes someone else happy and not you, you'll stay in the dirt until you start doing what's best for you and makes you happy. It was not easy, but I went ahead and did it. Once it was over, I felt more at peace and happy. I am back to putting God first and back to spending time in my Bible and with God. I'm much happier too. But after ending the relationship, I began other things. I'm focusing on my GED, driving, Bible study, other relationships in my life, and I started a women's Bible study.

A flower must grow through the dirt before it can bloom. If you find yourself in the dirt, remember you've been planted, and with perseverance, your bloom will be worth the struggle.

Out of the dirt, into the light, showing the world the beauty and the story God has given you and the strength to begin again!

Reflect back on your own stories and times you have started over. Be encouraged, know that you are doing the right thing when you make choices to begin again, even though it might not be easy. I would love to hear your stories and thoughts. Please feel free to share in the comments or reach out to me in email.

Much love,

Esther