Devotionals for the Heart: When you wish you could start over

When You Wish You Could Choose A Different Ending 
A devotional by Angela Anderson

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” –Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

One day my oldest son came home with a book from the library.

He was so excited about this book and eager to get started because it was a book that allowed him to choose his own ending. Furthermore, this book was written from a second-person point of view so that the reader takes on the role of the main character. As the book progresses, the reader can choose the main character’s actions which determines the outcome of the plot.

My son found his favorite spot in his room and began to read the book. As time passed, he came out of his room appearing disappointed. He told me that he was not happy with the ending. Well, all he had to do was go back to the page in the book where he made the wrong choice, and then he decided to follow a different pre-written plot so that he could experience a happy ending.

Have you ever had such a bad day that you wished you could just start over? Maybe you recollected something that went wrong during the day, and you just wanted to rewind and do things a little differently. Perhaps there is a situation in your life where you regret a decision that you made. You wonder how things would be now if only you had made another choice back then. You wished it were as simple as turning back to a page in the storybook of your life and choosing a better ending.

Fortunately, God gives us another chance. He specializes in taking an unpleasant situation and creating a favorable outcome. The verse for today’s devotional thought expresses this the best: “…all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NKJV).

This is reassuring us that our God is able to make wrong things right, crooked paths straight, barren places fertile, and old things new. God does not want us to live a life of regret, or to wonder “if only.” Instead, He wants to forgive us of our past mistakes, and then provide us with the opportunity to get our lives on track. I am so grateful that when we serve a God of love and mercy.

Let’s Pray: Dear God, thank you for being a God of second chances. Your grace allows us to forget our past mistakes and walk boldly into the future, knowing that You have prepared the way for the best possible outcome. Thank you for working things out for our good. We love you and we will always serve you. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

Angela Anderson was born in Brooklyn, NY, and raised in NJ. She found her love for writing when she was in elementary school. She continued writing through high school, college, and into adulthood. 

Angela is the author of a devotional book titled, Just When I Thought I Knew God, and a children's book that is not yet published.

In 2021, Angela started writing articles for an online magazine called Christian Women Living, where she focuses on writing messages for mothers and sharing advice on parenting. In addition to this, Angela wrote a devotional that is featured in a book published by Proverbs 31 Ministries. The book title is Hope When Your Heart is Heavy.

Angela has a passion for inspiring and impacting others through her writing as well as speaking. She is the co-founder of Anchor Moms, a ministry to cure loneliness in Motherhood. Currently, this ministry meets via a group on Facebook.

Angela has been married to the love of her life, Duane Anderson, for 17 years. Together, they have two sons: Thomas (age 9) and Ryan (age 4). Angela’s favorite pastime is journaling, and she also enjoys spending quality time with her family. Her personal mission is to empower others to achieve their goals and dreams.

~*~
Connect with Angela:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/angela.thomasanderson
Facebook fan page for her devotional book, Just When I Thought I Knew God:
https://www.facebook.com/jwitikg/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelanderson1104/