Starting over--on Purpose

A bomb has exploded. Francine knows she has only 22 minutes to reach the trauma site with supplies or thousands will die. There are multiple barricades and the truck's fuel light is on because the gas gauge is below the last line. Does she stop for gas or stop the truck and get cars to carry as much as possible? She assesses the situation and is immediately overwhelmed. Once impassioned and enthralled with the need to help others, Francine is now overpowered by hopelessness--paralyzed by desolation. She gives up. She calls the emergency relief line and tells them she won't make it. Who can blame her? The obstacles are insurmountable, right? Somehow, Francine's acquiescence brings a part of her to a standstill. Her head drops--partly to hide her tears but mostly from a broken spirit.

Pain, trauma, and the power of failure brings hopelessness and converts vibrant, gifted people into paralyzed, broken bystanders. Parts of the soul die inside. Areas in which we were once willing to take a risk are buried and dreams somehow fade into the background while surviving and living day by day pan the forefronts of our lives. When purpose is lost: mere existence takes preeminence. We turn into the "Time to make the donuts" man merely going through the routine of life. So how do we start over on our purpose?



For Francine, starting over means overcoming the fear of letting thousands of people down again. But what do you have to face to start over? Has part of you died because of failure, pain, or trauma? Is there a dream that's standing still? For believers, starting over has grave implications. There are works we've been predestined to complete. If we fail to start over despite pain and disappointment, we lose eternal rewards.

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. - 1 Corinthians 3:13 (KJV)

Start over on purpose. Don't give up. When the Bible says a righteous man falls seven times but gets back up again, it's not just talking about sin: it's also talking about our race and sojourning towards purpose and the works predestined for us. You can do it!