A Spring of Second Chances

As we come into a new season, seasons themselves are a great reminder of how the Lord works. Seasons are cycles in which specific conditions come back around that are a new experience of a familiar thing. Each time we experience spring, there are familiar bits, but it’s a completely new time. 

In the natural there have been hints of this everywhere. Maybe you’ve noticed things happening in current events or your own life that have you saying “That reminds me of a past season… but different.” Biblically, we see so many cyclical seasons. We see the Israelites promise come back around after circling for decades. We see cycles of peace, war, idols, and righteous rulers in the books of Judges and 1 & 2 Kings. We even see Jesus bring second chances back around in His redemption of Peter after the resurrection (John 21:15-19). As I marveled at all of the “familiar new things” the Lord was pointing out around me, I asked Him what second chance seasons bring. He showed me the word “raise”. Then the word shifted and turned to “raze”, and finally it turned to “rays”. 

Raise-

Biblically, second chance seasons come with a changing of the guard and raising up new leaders. For the Israelites, this meant Joshua would lead in Moses’s stead. For Peter this meant he and the other disciples would take more of an apostolic role, training up new disciples. In the natural we see this when leaders are either given new, upgraded assignments or are taken out of leadership by the Lord. Whatever the circumstance (good or bad), the gap the old leaders leave draws up new leaders to fill those roles in the work of the body. Sometimes this even happens on a national scale where new nations will emerge as leaders in areas they previously had not occupied. In transition times like this it’s important to first honor past leadership (like David honored Saul). Humbly thank God for the ways He works and moves through the good and in spite of the bad. Keep your ears open as the Lord trains you up for the next stop on the journey He has for you. Remember His promises. Just like the Israelites had to remember the original words and promises given by God to Moses decades ago when they entered their promised land, remember the “big picture” words- both corporate and individual- that the Lord has spoken over what you’re involved in. 

Raze-

Raze means to tear down, and when I looked it up the definition specifically added “usually followed by ‘to the ground’”. It’s no accident that the first stop in conquering the promised land was Jericho. Instead of taking it over and taking advantage of an already-built city, the Lord leveled it...which gave them victory! It also caused them to build from the ground up. A demolition fully clears the way for anything to be built whereas a “remodel” has to work with existing design. Many of the things the Lord is bringing back around are old promises and old movements, BUT the Lord is giving us a clear ground to do a new thing. He’s taking everything out (pruning and cleansing) and working with us in the learning process of building from the ground up.

Rays-

There’s a term in geometry called a ray that indicates a starting point that continues in a given direction forever. Right now the Lord is giving us starting points for co-laboring with Him, but we have to be eternally minded, knowing it stretches on forever. Some of the beginnings from this season will be things we won’t live to see the end of. We have to dream multi-generationally with the Lord. 

Finally, second chances bring to mind forgiveness. In his second chance, Peter had to be forgiven but also forgive himself in order for his second chance to become the launch it was intended to be. The Lord is uprooting bitterness this spring. Bitterness isn’t just unforgiveness. Bitterness is caused by serial disappointments that have led to low hopes. The whole group of Israelites had experienced plenty of disappointments and delays, but Joshua and Caleb had healed hearts of hope which allowed them to take hold of that second chance on behalf of their whole people group. Low hope works against rebuilding. We have to encounter the Lord in the places we need forgiveness, the places we need to forgive ourselves, and the places we need to be healed from disappointment. Let hope arise again! It’s a spring of second chances. 

This spring be asking the Lord:

1. What promises and words are still lingering? 

2. What opportunities are coming back around?

3. What is Your multigenerational vision for the things you have me doing in this season in my life?

4. Where do I need your healing touch of forgiveness or hope?