New beginnings. To some it is exciting. But for others, it is daunting depending on what circumstances brought them to this point.
A fresh start is often the focus of a new year when most people see life as a clean slate. They look forward to the “good things” ahead as they plan a new storyline. Starting over quotes excite and motivate them.
UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE MANY OTHER TIMES when life deals you a new chapter, placing you at the beginning of a road you did not choose. A brand new start was not what you were looking for. You are here through no fault of your own.
Finally, there are times when part of a person’s history includes wrong turns and painful endings that force them to start over. These individuals need a second chance but often don’t know where to begin.
If a brand new start was not your idea of something exciting and you need some encouragement, you are in the right place.
Best starting over quotes after painful life events
At any given moment, life can turn your world upside down. You are forced to take a deep breath because you feel like that’s all you can do.
These starting-over quotes are not a prescription to fix what happened to you. They are, however, words of encouragement to help you face each new day.
And be assured that with the passage of time, it will get easier to handle the new things you have to deal with.
Best starting over inspirational quotes from the Bible
Whenever possible, we want to get our direction for life from the Bible. God has far better things for us than we can imagine. God’s way brings the greatest amount of joy and peace.
Keep in mind that Biblical principles are different than exact directions for any given circumstance.
So while we might need the help of a financial advisor about how to keep a spreadsheet with our expenditures, the Biblical principles of not loving money or being greedy help us make our purchases for the glory of God.
Another example has to do with marriage. Scripture says that a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. How that is applied will vary. Wives feel loved in different ways.
Jeremiah 29:11
“When you wonder what God is up to remember that God’s plans are good.”
The truth is that God’s ways are not always our ways. What we see is not always the best plan from our point of view because we can’t see the big picture.
These are the moments when we have to claim God’s promises and “faith it till we make it.”
Revelation 21:4
“God will wipe away our tears and there won’t be any more death or sorrow” (adapted from Revelation 21:4)
Losing someone we love is a bitter pill to swallow. It causes a great amount of grief and throws us into a whole new way of life.
This is when we wish we could push a reset button and get our old life back. We can’t imagine we will ever have a rich life again
Fortunately, when we are part of God’s family, death is not the end. It is a fresh beginning in the realm that we were created for, spending every moment in the presence of God.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do everything I have to do with God’s help and strength”
When life has left us in the dust wondering how we will ever get back up again, we can count on God’s help to get through those moments and take the first step and every other one after that.
Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6-8
“Regardless of our present circumstances, God will never leave those who are His children.”
After the fallout from divorce, abandonment, or death we are tempted to feel alone. But Scripture tells us that God is close to those who draw near to Him.
We must be diligent in these times of life to cling to God through Bible reading, prayer, and time with others who love Jesus. We need constant reminders that the lover of our soul understands and shares our grief.
Sometimes our loss is the best opportunity to learn how deep God’s love and affection is for us. When He is all we have, we learn He really is all we need.
Philippians 4:6-7, Isaiah 26:3
“Peace is possible when we keep our minds on Jesus, talk to Him about our problems, and thank Him for all His blessings.”
It is human nature to be anxious about unknown endings. Peace is the opposite of anxiety and fear.
So to combat those fears, we have to focus on what we know about God and not on what we don’t know about the future.
Best starting over inspirational quotes from people
Starting over is hard. It requires that we learn new things and take on new roles. As humans, we often would rather have the familiar than the unknown. But that usually is not one of our choices.
Henry Ford
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” Henry Ford
When tragedy first strikes, we usually go through a lot of denial and, “I don’t think I can handle this.” While it is a normal reaction, we can’t stay there indefinitely.
Scripture says that the way we think is what we become. (Proverbs 23:7)
Our thoughts have power to change us and the course of our lives. We can set ourselves up for failure through negativity, or we can let God guide us through our diffiuclties with His positivity. (Romans 12:1-2)
C.S. Lewis
“Relying on God has to begin all over again every day as if nothing had yet been done.” C.S. Lewis
Trusting God is not a one-time event. It is a daily practice. Where are you in your relationship with God? Spending time in His presence will make your transtion to new things a lot easier.
John Piper
“Occasionally, weep deeply over the life you hoped would be. Grieve the losses. Then wash your face. Trust God. And embrace the life you have.” John Piper
This would have been a really good inspirational quote when I went through my first divorce. When anyone gets married they have great expectations. Divorce destroys those hopes and dreams.
But it also is appropriate for any painful life event. Almost all of them involve some kind of loss.
It’s okay to grieve. But we can’t stay there permanently. God has things for us to do in the place we are right now.
Embracing our current situation may be hard work, but eventually, we see that it is worth it. It may not happen overnight. But God promises to walk with us through the hard times.
“One of the great enemies of hope is forgetting God’s promises.” John Piper
Starting over often leaves a person grappling for a sense of hope. Yet God has given us many reasons to be hopeful and optimistic.
I encourage you to get into God’s word and trust Him. When we trust our own instincts we can fall flat on our faces. However, when we trust God He will direct us in the way we should go. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Thomas Edison
“Your worth consists in what you are and not in what you have.” Thomas Edison
We may not have many possessions. We may not have a spouse and the perfect family. We may not have designer clothes. We may not have a lovely home.
However, in Jesus,
- We are the daughters of God.
- We are the bride of Christ.
- We are clothed in His righteousness.
- We have a home waiting for us in heaven.
- Jesus is our friend, our hope, our gentle shepherd, and so much more.
Mark Twain
“Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.” Mark Twain
So much of starting over involves the need to forgive, not that the other person deserves it. In fact, none of us do. And it isn’t about condoning the other person’s bad behavior.
Forgiveness is what sets us free to start over in peace. It is letting God take care of the other person in His own way.
“The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.” Mark Twain
Congratulations on reading this article! When undertaking a brand new start there may be a lot of necessary reading to navigate the new life in front of you. We often need the expertise of others to learn new things.
Lisa Appelo
“Agonizing loss doesn’t stop breathtaking life. (from “10 things I learned in grief)
Life does not end just because our circumstances change. Yes, we will grieve. But we also have a repeated invitation to live life abundantly through Jesus Christ. (John 10:10)
Best starting over quotes after wrong turns and painful endings
Sometimes people make wrong choices and then suffer the consequences. This is not a fun place to be.
While God gives us a second chance, we often have to continue to live with the fallout from our choices:
- damaged relationships
- financial problems
- loss of trust
- health problems
- and a host of other consequences
You may be feeling like a total failure. If you are in this place take heart. A new chapter is waiting for you.
God wants to help you write a new storyline, but you have to give Him the pen. We do this through a relationship with Jesus.
If you don’t know Jesus, you probably have questions. The people at Chat About Jesus have answers. You can text, call, or chat with them online any time of the day or night.
Also, be aware that sometimes the situations we get ourselves into require more than reading the many articles here at the Creator’s Classroom and other good websites.
Professional help is often needed depending on the severity of your wrong choices.
Best starting over quotes from the Bible
The hardest part about wrong turns in life is that they lead us down a path that seems like a bottomless pit. The only way out is to look up. But don’t despair. The Bible has a lot of encouragement to offer.
2 Corinthians 5:17
“When someone is new in Christ, old things disappear and new things become their way of life. (personal paraphrase)
I hope that you have discovered new life in Jesus.
1 John 1:9
“God will forgive me when I admit I am wrong”. (personal paraphrase)
Many people feel like their past is too bad for God to forgive them. The truth is, none of us deserve forgiveness.
It is God’s great love and compassion that makes it possible to be forgiven when we have a personal relationship with Jesus.
And because of what Jesus did for us, Scripture says there is no condemnation for those who are part of God’s family. (Romans 8:1)
1 Corinthians 10:13
“When I am tempted to make the wrong choices and do the wrong things, God will make a way for me to do the right things instead. (personal paraphrase)
Do you want to do the right things? Then God will help you with that when you spend time with Him each day.
But what if you don’t know how to be close to God? Here are several articles that should help.
- Chrisitan Faith For Beginners
- Bible Reading For Beginners – How And Where To Start
- Prayer For Beginners
- Restoration Prayer Points – How To Return To God
Ezekiel 36:26-27
“God will give us a new heart and a new spirit when we return to Him. And then He will help us live the right way, following Jesus.” (personal paraphrase)
You can never go wrong when you want to follow Jesus. The key is staying close to Him. Scripture says that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. (John 15)
Best starting over quotes from people
C.S. Lewis
“You can’t go back and change the beginning. But you can start where you are and change the ending.” (often attributed to C.S. Lewis, but the author is actually unknown)
If you are still alive and breathing, your story is not over. God still has things for you to do.
So while you may not like what has happened, you can move forward knowing that God is still working in your life. (Philippians 1:6)
Henry Ford
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” Henry Ford
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” Henry Ford
When we learn from our mistakes and failures, it gives us a more intelligent approach to starting over.
Winston Churchill
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Where you are right now does not have to be the end of the story. Failure is only a lesson. It is not who you are. It is not a life sentence.
“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference” Winston Churchill
Our attitudes and actions come from the way we think. And what we read, listen to, and watch feed our thoughts.
To start over we usually have to start thinking differently. The same old thoughts lead to the same old outcomes.
Scripture says that to be changed, to be transformed we must think new thoughts, the things that God knows will bring success in living life.
If you find it hard to change your thoughts, they are probably holding you captive. But that can change.
Thomas Edison
“I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” Thomas Edison
As long as we learn from our failures, we are on the road to a brand new ending. Don’t wallow in your lack of success. Get up. Get help and move on.
Old Chinese Proverb
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Old Chinese Proverb
Okay, so you didn’t make the right choices early on. Now is the time to start making changes.
God specializes in impossible situations. He makes possible what we never dreamed could happen.
Jesus Revolution
“Don’t be so arrogant to think God can’t work through your failures.” Jesus Revolution
One of satan’s lies is that we have managed to pull off the one thing that is going to stop God from achieving His plans. Do we really have that much power? Absolutely not.
Images From The Best Starting Over quotes
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These images of starting over quotes are for personal use only and not for commercial purposes.
You might also like to read and/or study:
- Learning to trust God – resources for the online Bible study
- 7 reasons to forgive when you don’t feel like it
- How to forgive yourself for the past
References:
- Many thanks to Bible Gateway for easy navigation of Scriptures online.
- All images are from a paid subscription from Canva.