The start of a new year

It's ok to admit it. New beginnings are scary. The fear of new classes, new teachers, maybe even a new school can be overwhelming to anyone. When you add all the current stress you are carrying, it may seem like adding school back into your lives will be the straw that breaks the camels back. But the beauty of new beginnings is that it also comes with new resources, help, and encouragement. You have new teachers to encourage you through the tough times, school counselors to lend a listening ear when you feel discouraged, a new year at the Abbeville Youth Center, and maybe even a new GoodLife classroom experience and/or small group (more on this to come).

So often in life we can focus so hard on what could go WRONG with starting something new that we forget about what could go RIGHT. New beginnings gives us the chance to start fresh. Maybe last year wasn't the best year for you academically. Maybe you got behind and felt like you simply couldn't catch up. Maybe you misbehaved early and you were labeled the "trouble kid". The start of school represents a new beginning for you. Make it count!

Often in life we long for a new beginning. Mistakes with family, friends, relationships, and personal choices make us feel like we have failed and that we can not make things better. We feel like we will be stuck like this forever. But God's word shows us something different. Lamentations 3:22-23 says "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Every day we wake up with a relationship with God we are given a "new beginning". God shows us such great mercy and love that we can start fresh each day with an opportunity to serve Him and live the life He created us to live.

So as you get ready to start back school, be excited that you have a new beginning in Christ each day as you lean on Him.