A New Beginning

Bible Reading: Lamentations 3:22-26

I’ll never be happy here, Cassidy thought as she stared out the window at the kids playing next door. Her family had moved far away from their old home for her mom’s job. I’ll never find friends like I had before, she thought sadly. There’s no use even trying. So she didn’t try at all. She didn’t go out to play with the neighbor kids, and if any of the kids at church spoke to her, she mumbled a reply and looked at the ground.

One Saturday the family took a trip to the ocean. As Cassidy walked along the water’s edge, she was startled to see a little orange starfish just offshore. She reached to

pick it up but frowned when she saw that two of its arms were broken off.

“Let me see it,” said Dad, coming up to join Cassidy just as she was about to throw the starfish away. He held out his hand, and she gave it to him. Dad turned it over. “See those little moving feet?”

“You mean it’s alive?” asked Cassidy in surprise. Dad nodded.

“Well, it’s gonna die,” she said. “It has only three arms instead of five.”

“It will live,” said Dad. “Starfish can regenerate.”

“Regenerate? What does that mean?” asked Cassidy.

“It means that over time the starfish will grow new arms to replace the old ones,”

Dad explained. “It’s how God created them. He made it so that a wounded starfish can begin a new life. And He made you the same way.”

“Me?” Cassidy looked at him in surprise.

“Right now you’re something like this starfish,” Dad told her. “You’ve had to leave your friends and the life you’ve always known, and you’re hurting. But your life can be regenerated too. You began a new life with Jesus when you trusted Him as your Savior, and He promises to be with you in every new beginning. It’s scary to begin again, but with His help, you can start a new life here by making new friends and trying new things.”

Cassidy hesitated, but then she smiled. “You’re right, Dad. If a starfish can begin again, I guess I can too.” • Jan L. Hansen

How About You?

Are you facing a hard change in your life? Do you feel like you have to start over and doubt things could ever be as good as they were before? Big changes can be scary, but remember that Jesus is with you. In times of uncertainty, trust Him to help you adjust and find the good things He has in store for you. With Him, a difficult change can become a new beginning.

Today’s Key Verse:
Philippians 4:11 I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

You can begin again