Let’s talk about how to start again after quitting.
Quitting doesn’t always look like walking away completely. Sometimes it can look like avoidance or procrastination.
Maybe you’re a person who gets overwhelmed easily or you may have a habit of self-sabotaging.
I know this because I have quit one too many times on my God-given calling. Until one day I had a thought, “What if it could actually be different if I started again?”
In this post, you will learn why restarting feels so hard, how to actually start again, what it looks like to start again without punishing yourself, and more!
This post will be all about how to start again after quitting.
Are you ready? Let’s geaux!
Why Restarting Feels So Hard (Even When It Doesn’t Have To Be)
Our brains are very interesting. They are actually proved to be advanced pattern recognition engines.
Because you’ve quit before, your brain tells you a few different stories like:
- “Too much time has passed to start again”.
- “It’s too late,you’ve missed your moment”.
- “God has already chosen someone else”.
- “You’ll never be able to be consistent”.
- “What’s the point of trying again”?
It’s not just your brain either. It can actually be the enemy working against you as well. The enemy of our souls would love it if we left everything God has for us on the table, but not today.
Not anymore because you’re restarting and being consistent this time.
What else can make restarting feel hard?
- Feeling like you’re responsible for changing yourself (Not depending on God to produce the change in you).
- Shame about restarting several times.
- Judging yourself and making assumptions about what others may think/say.
- Overthinking about the when, how, and what.
- The “I’ll start again on Monday” habit.
- Pressuring yourself with the idea that you have to try harder this time around.
What happens when you want to restart, but don’t know what to do? This is where I found myself and I had to admit “God, I just didn’t know anymore”. If you find yourself in that same place, this devotional is for you. Click the image below to get it sent straight to your inbox.
The Difference Between Quitting And Pausing
There is a clear distinction between quitting and pausing, it just takes the right perspective.
Many of us haven’t necessarily quit. Some of us just took a long pause. If you have laid something down for days, weeks, or months and it’s still on your mind, then that means there was a pause.
The reason why it’s still on your mind is because God won’t let you forfeit what He placed inside of you. The lingering thoughts are His promptings and grace for you to find your rhythm again.
This time holding His hand all the way through.
Everything you need is still there:
- His knowledge is awaiting you.
- The capacity to be who you really are is already inside of you.
- Your identity is in His hands.
- And your breakthrough is on the other side of your obedience to start again.
What Coming Back Actually Looks Like
Legalism says that you need to try harder or that you need to make up for lost time. What if placing everything on yourself is the actual problem?
I know that we hear things like “no one is coming to save you”, but that doesn’t mean that everything depends on you.
A real relationship with Christ leaves room for Him to be pleased by our faith in Him. This means that you’re not actually starting from scratch.
Your Father has already made the foundation for you by allowing Christ to go ahead of you. You don’t serve a high priest who is ignorant about what you go through, but you serve one who has been where you are (Hebrews 4:15 NIV).
Coming back looks like trusting imperfectly even with the smallest step possible. For example, filming a thirty second short and posting it.
It’s all about picking up where you left off without destroying what has already been done.
How To Start Again Without Punishing Yourself
1. Pray
Psalm 25:10 NIV-All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
Talk with God about where you are and ask Him to meet you there.
Ask God for His mercy and grace to start again.
{RELATED POST: Why Prayer Matters: How Prayer Helps You To Exit Survival Mode}
2. Let Go Of The Pressure To Come Back At Full Intensity
Matthew 6:34 NLT-So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
You probably paused because you were overwhelmed or burnt out. We don’t want that to happen again so this time you want to start small.
What does that look like? It looks like reducing everything to the smallest step; taking things one step at a time.
3. Recognize Condemnation
Romans 8:1 NIV-Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Condemnation points to everything that you did wrong. It says that you deserve punishment and that there is no forgiveness for what you have done.
That is a lie! Remember there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
What happens when you want to restart, but don’t know what to do? This is where I found myself and I had to admit “God, I just didn’t know anymore”. If you find yourself in that same place, this devotional is for you. Click the image below to get it sent straight to your inbox.
4. Forgive Yourself For The Pause
1 John 1:9 NIV-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Forgiving yourself starts with receiving forgiveness from God. Ask God to help you to forgive yourself for the pause.
Release the guilt and shame to Him so that you can move forward.
5. Let The Past Go
Philippians 3:13 NIV-Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.
You’re no longer the person who quit. You have full permission to start again and leave the past in the past.
If you continue to allow your past into your present, you will not be able to move forward.
It’s time for you to forget the past and press forward towards what’s ahead in Christ Jesus.
Bestie, you are not someone who quit. You paused and now you’re learning how to return. Give yourself some grace. You were never supposed to have your whole life figured out. God is the one who has the plans for you and He says many times in His word that He will lead and guide you. As you return, allow yourself to take things one step at a time.
This post was all about how to start again after quitting.
If You Enjoyed This Post, You’ll Love These:
Accepting God’s Forgiveness: 6 Keys For Your Personal Healing Journey
Forgiving Yourself: 5 Steps To Forgive Yourself God’s Way
Why Is It So Hard To Forgive Yourself
Before You Go…Let’s Recap
A quick recap of what coming back looks like:
- Depending on God instead of yourself.
- Breaking tasks into small steps.
- Taking things one step at a time.
- Picking up where you left off without destroying what’s been done.
- Recognizing condemnation’s voice.
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Always remember that you’re destined to win because He got up!
-Devyn Janae
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