For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart… — Jeremiah 29:11-13

Starting over is not

.

God is with you right where you are even when you don’t

it. (Genesis 28:15-16)

In whatever place you live, do not easily leave it. —Father Anthony, 251-356 AD

Sometimes starting over is our

Reveal Answer

and opportunity.

I had an opportunity to start over in

in 1989 and 1990.

God’s people have a

of starting over. (Genesis 12:1-5)

Abraham is 75, childless, and God says to go to an unknown land and I will make you a

. 1920 BC

Moses leads God’s people out of Egypt and into the

land. 1300 BC

Sometimes starting over is

Reveal Answer

upon us.

I have learned to walk

times.

The

kingdom of Israel fell to the Assyrians in 722 BC.

The

kingdom of Judah fell to Babylon in 586 BC.

A young

was appointed prophet to King Josiah in 626 BC.

From 597-587 BC, Jeremiah warned King Zedekiah not to revolt against

.

The revolt broke out, and Jeremiah was

until after the fall of Jerusalem.

What to Do When Starting Over is Forced Upon Us

Don’t listen to voices of false hope promising

deliverance. (Jeremiah 28:1-4)

Accept and tell the

about the situation even if it is difficult. (Jeremiah 28:5, 15-17)

Work and

for the welfare of the city. (Jeremiah 29:1, 7)

Remember that God’s promises come true in God’s

. (Jeremiah 29:10-11)

People of that day understood

years to be the period of a lifetime.

Live at

and hold on to

Reveal Answer

for your children and grandchildren. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all the darkness. —Bishop Desmond Tutu

What Is Hope?

Hope is the bridge between the impossible and the possible. —Joseph Bellezzo, M.D.

Hope is not a

.

Hope is a

.

Hope is the belief that your future can be brighter and better than your past and that you actually have a role to play in making it better. —Casey Gwinn & Chan Hellman

Hope is an

.

Hope means, “You can get there from here.” —Rick Snyder

Judeo-Christian hope is not in

. (Romans 5:1-5)

Our hope is in

. (Romans 5:6-10)

Action Steps

Seek the good of someone you think of as

.

Rather than tolerating the unfortunate circumstances of the pandemic, intentionally

to comfort and care for someone affected by it.