There's something about milestone birthdays that causes us to pause and take inventory. As I recently crossed the threshold of a significant age—one of those big, round numbers that society tends to mark with both celebration and quiet contemplation—I found myself making a decision that surprised even me: I chose to begin again.
When Certainty Makes Way for Possibility
Beginning again isn't always planned. Sometimes it arrives after loss or disappointment. Other times, it emerges from a growing realization that the life you've built, while perhaps comfortable or expected, isn't the one your soul longs for.
For me, it was the latter. Despite achievements and stability in certain areas, I recognized a quiet but persistent voice within me saying, "There's more. This isn't all." Not more stuff, not more accolades—but more alignment with who I truly am and what brings me genuine peace.
So I made the decision to start clean in multiple areas of my life. New career directions. New relationships. New daily rhythms. New priorities.
When Uncertainty Knocks
I won't sugarcoat the journey. There are days when uncertainty knocks loudly, when I question whether beginning again at this stage of life is foolish or naive. Our culture often feeds us narratives about "appropriate timing"—when we should have certain things figured out, when we should be settled.
But these are human timelines, not divine ones.
Isaiah 43:19 reminds us: *"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."*
God is not constrained by our cultural expectations of timing. In fact, throughout scripture, we see Him orchestrating new beginnings for people across all life stages:
- Abraham embarked on a whole new journey in his later years
- Moses led an entire nation out of slavery when he was 80
- Elizabeth experienced the miracle of motherhood well beyond childbearing years
The Currency of Worth
What I've discovered in this season of beginning again is the tremendous value of understanding my worth. Not the worth assigned by society based on achievement or status, but the inherent worth given to me by my Creator.
When I say "my worth is stronger" than uncertainty, I mean this: my certainty about my worthiness to experience joy, peace, and fulfillment outweighs any temporary discomfort that comes with change.
I am worthy of happiness.
I am worthy of peace.
I am worthy of an everyday journey that aligns with my authentic self.
This worth isn't something I earned—it's something I've finally allowed myself to accept. And it changes everything.
The Bridge of Uncertainty
Think of uncertainty not as an obstacle but as a bridge—the necessary pathway between where you were and where you're going. Yes, bridges sometimes sway. They can feel precarious. But they're also the only way to cross over to new territory.
The temporary uncertainty I face is worth what I know is coming. Not because I have perfect foresight, but because I have perfect trust in the God who goes before me and the worth He has placed within me.
Your Invitation to Begin Again
Perhaps you're also standing at a crossroads, hearing whispers that it's "too late" to change course. Maybe society—or even well-meaning friends and family—have suggested that your time for new beginnings has passed.
I'm here to remind you: there is no expiration date on new beginnings.
2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"
This scripture doesn't come with age restrictions. The promise of renewal, of becoming new, is available to us at every stage of life.
Practical Steps for Those Beginning Again
If you're feeling the call to begin again, here are some practices that have anchored me in this season:
1. Morning affirmations of worth: Start each day by speaking truth about your worthiness to pursue joy and peace
2. Boundary-setting: Protect your new beginnings by limiting exposure to voices that reinforce limitation
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