Starting Again: This Time, with Experience
Have you ever felt defeated because you’re starting over… again? Maybe it’s the third time, the tenth, or the twentieth. You’ve put in the work before, only to face setbacks or interruptions. I know how discouraging that can feel. Yesterday, as I was talking about restarting something for the third time, someone said something that completely reframed my perspective:
“You’re not starting as a beginner this time; you’re starting with experience.”
What a powerful truth!
Every restart, every reset, every “do-over” carries with it the wisdom you’ve gained along the way. The lessons you’ve learned, the mistakes you’ve corrected, and the perseverance you’ve built are now tools in your arsenal. You may feel like you’re standing at square one, but this isn’t the same starting line. You’re not the same person who began this journey before.
Experience Makes You Stronger
Think about it this way: A runner who trains for a marathon doesn’t start every practice run from scratch. Each mile builds endurance, strengthens muscles, and increases confidence. Even if they have to stop mid-race and come back another day, they’re not untrained. They’re prepared in ways they couldn’t have been on day one.
Life is much the same. Maybe you’re restarting a dream you set aside, rebuilding after a failure, or trying again after a season of struggle. The time you spent before wasn’t wasted. It built something within you—something invaluable.
God’s Grace in the Process
And here’s the beautiful thing: God works through the starts, the stops, and the starts again. He’s not surprised by your journey or disappointed by your setbacks. Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
God is faithful to complete what He started in you. Every time you step forward again, He meets you there, offering strength for the journey and grace for the missteps.
A Fresh Perspective
So, to anyone starting over, hear this: You’re not behind. You’re not failing. You’re advancing. Each attempt brings you closer to where you’re meant to be. Lean into what you’ve learned and trust the One who’s guiding your steps.
This time isn’t like the last. You’ve grown. You’re wiser. You’re stronger.
You aren’t starting over as a beginner. You’re starting again with experience.
And that makes all the difference.