- The plane had reached its cruising altitude, and the stewardess was announcing our drink options when I was suddenly gripped with fear. I was flying to Iowa to present an all-day small group leadership conference by myself for the first time. I was plagued with the thought, "Who do I think I am?"
- I downloaded the 30-page syllabus and began reading.As I perused the curriculum for my first online Master's degree class, I noticed that I was not breathing. Having been a stay-at-home mom for ten years, I was overwhelmed with the thought that maybe my brain had become incapable of studying and completing assignments of this magnitude.
- My husband and I had just spent a couple of hours with some friends who had agreed to be our accountability partners, talked with our four daughters about what to expect, and packed necessary clothes and household items in the car. When my husband said goodbye to the girls and walked out the door, marking the beginning of our marital separation, I felt myself going numb.
- I helped her buy necessary items and get necessary shots, a passport, and a visa. However, when my 18-year-old daughter turned away from our hug to go through security for the first leg of her trip to Brazil, I felt a lump slowly growing in my throat.
God is all about new beginnings. Many of which are not pleasant, but all are necessary to our spiritual growth. The Israelites were given a new beginning in life, but it included being chased by the whole Egyptian army to the banks of the Red Sea. God eventually parted the sea to allow the Israelites safe passage, as He also provided for me during each of my exoduses from my comfort zone. The conference in Iowa was a success and led to three more conferences. I obtained my Master's degree with a 4.0 GPA.My husband and I just celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary back together, and I am trusting God with my daughter's safe return from Brazil.
As part of each week's lesson, ask your group members to share a new beginning that pertains to the lesson. For example, if the lesson is on Romans 5 and focuses on suffering, ask if there is anyone who could share an example of suffering from his or her own life. As each person shares their story, encourage them to share any fear or apprehension they had about the new beginning and the outcome, good or bad. What did they learn about God during this time? How were they changed? How did the experience affect his or her faith? Several people may not have experienced a new beginning in a particular area, but the stories of others will be an encouragement and source of strength for them in the future. Also, remembering God's provision in the past will strengthen the faith of those telling their stories.
