The Blessing of the Second Start

Is there an area in your life where you need a second start?

Here is a sneak peek of my guest post at Medium.com for Devotable about the blessing of the second start.

The Blessing of the Second Start

Perhaps you need the blessing of the second start in your work, ministry, or family? This is an area where you usually need to start from zero after surviving a major loss.

I want to encourage you today to open your heart for the blessing of the second start by studying the story of Jeremiah re-writing God’s message.

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Jeremiah’s First Start

In Jeremiah chapter 36, God instructed the prophet Jeremiah to take a scroll and write on it all the words God had spoken to him concerning Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time God began speaking in the reign of Josiah till that moment. So Jeremiah called Baruch and dictated to him all the words the Lord had spoken and Baruch wrote them on a scroll. (Jeremiah 36:2–4)

The Bible didn’t tell us how much time this effort took, but it was not just a word or two. The scroll contained the prophecies about Judah, Israel, and many other nations. It was like writing a book.

After that, Baruch read the words of the scroll at the Lord’s temple and to all the officials. Hearing the messages written on the scroll, the officials went to the king in the courtyard and reported everything to him. The king sent for the scroll and when he heard a few columns from the scroll, he threw it into the firepot until the entire scroll burned in the fire. (Jeremiah 36:23)

A Precious Preparation for the Second Start

Was all the work of Jeremiah and Baruch in vain? Not only did the king burn the fruit of their efforts, but the reaction of the people hearing the words was not a reaction of repentance, which was the aim of the scroll. Was the first start a failure?

I wonder how Jeremiah and Baruch had felt when the scroll was burned. Did they wonder why God instructed them to create something which was destroyed? What was the meaning of this?

Have you had situations when you have followed the instructions of the Lord, and have invested efforts and time, only to experience loss and failure?

Friend, we could never fail if we follow obediently the Lord and carry out His instructions. Nothing that we do out of obedience is a failure. On the contrary, it is a precious preparation for what comes next, and usually, it is a second start–a blessed, better, and more successful.

Read the rest of the post and the accompanying prayer at Medium.com and be strengthened and encouraged.

More Encouragement for Your Second Start

If you need more encouragement for your second start and new beginnings, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.

The God of Second Chances: Experiencing His Grace for the Best of Your Life by Stephen Arterburn

Discovering the God of Second Chances: Jonah, Joel, Amos, Obadiah by Kay Arthur and Pete De Lacy

The God of the Second Chance: Book of Jonah by Johnny A. Palmer Jr

God Gives Second Chances: How to Get Up, Dust Off and be Used Again by God when You Fall by R.T.Kendall

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Your Turn

Where do you need a second start? How did this story encourage you? Share in the comments and on social media if you found this article helpful. Thank you!

Nothing that we do out of obedience is a failure, but it is a precious preparation for what comes next, and usually, it is a second start–a blessed, better, and more successful. #encouragement #Biblestudy @devotableapp Share on X

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