Starting Again

From the belly of the fish, Jonah probably thought that God would never use him again—and God certainly was under no obligation to do so.

But then we read this: “Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you’” (Jonah 2:10–3:1–2 NLT).

All of this happened because God loved Jonah. And this should give hope to anyone who feels the need for a second chance in life.

God gave a second chance to Adam and Eve, our first parents. He strictly warned them not to eat the forbidden fruit, but they did it anyway. And sin entered into the world.

God could have said, “That’s it! I’m starting over again.”

Yet we read that Adam and Eve “heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’” (Genesis 3:8–9 NLT). God still was longing for fellowship with his wayward son.

God gave King David a second chance after David committed adultery and then murder, which he did to cover up his adultery. When the prophet Nathan confronted David, he repented. And God gave him a second chance.

Finally, Simon Peter failed miserably, denying the Lord three times. Yet after Christ rose from the dead, this message was sent out: “Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died” (Mark 16:7 NLT).

Even when we fail miserably, God gives second chances. Your situation isn’t hopeless. God can change your whole story.