Daily Offerings

A very wise pastor once told me something that changed my life. I told him that I wished I hadn’t wasted so many years before figuring out what I was supposed to do with my life. “If I’d only got started sooner,” I said. “I wasted so much time, so many years doing worthless things.”

He laughed and said a knowing smile, “God doesn’t waste anything. He knew you weren’t ready for what he had in store. He also knew you needed some shaping and molding before you would be.” He went on to say that all of the experiences I’d had—even the bad ones—had prepared my heart, my character, and my spirit for the path God had for me.

I think the idea of a life-reset button is appealing, but we often mistake the idea of resetting life with the concept of getting a second chance. None of the things that we’ve done or even the things that have been done to us were wasted. All of life’s challenges, triumphs, mistakes, and choices have helped shape us and prepare us for the path ahead.

God can take even the worst things that have happened in our lives and redeem them for his glory. God, as it turns out, is still in the resurrection business—raising to new life what we would consider dead and gone. Life doesn’t have a reset button. But we do have a God who loves to dole out second chances to his beloved children.

May you embrace the great opportunity of this new year before you. May you find true joy in the knowledge that God doesn’t waste anything in making you into the person you are becoming. May you take your second chance and run with it.