It’s one thing to experience a new beginning, to usher in a time of new roles, new adventure, and new season of life. No matter what kind of new beginning a transition might bring, it also brings a new identity for us: a beginner.
I’ve discovered I don’t love being a beginner. I’d rather be an expert, thank you very much. But being a beginner is an unavoidable part of life transition.
Let’s close the gap between the joy of a new beginning and the dread of actually being a beginner by simply doing the next right thing.
Links + Resources From This Episode:
- Begin Again: The Brave Practice of Releasing Hurt and Receiving Rest by Leanna Tankersley
- Hope*writers
- Too Small To Ignore: Why the Least of These Matters Most by Wess Stafford
- Find me on Instagram @emilypfreeman
- Get the monthly letter here
I Love your podcast every week,I look forward to it!
I’ve always thought my life isn’t as important as the one of many other people, so when I started listing to you I thought this wasn’t going to be for me, I saw your podcast as something too good for me, but I actually learn a lot from you and now I love listening to your voice. I love everything about it. Perfect even for my “not so important life” I learn from you.
This podcast has been such a needed light of encouragement to me lately. But most especially this post, having just entered into a brand new relationship with an incredible man. We’re navigating these new beginnings together, but it’s daunting as much as it is happy. And so this podcast couldn’t have come at a better time. Total God thing. Thank you for your constant commitment to listening for Him well, and speaking truth out over the airwaves.
Thank you for blessings you offer. I am a 78yr old grandmother to eight boys and I share some of your insights with them as they move forward, making decisions about life. I’m still finding myself a beginner in several areas too. Thanks for encouragement.
It occurred to me that even Jesus came to earth as a beginner!!
In the beginning was the Word. So Jesus is the Word made flesh. He is, was and always will be divine hole God. Just sayin Jesus was not a beginner when he came as a baby, just a lot for our minds to grasp.
Hi Emily! I am new to the podcast world, and several friends recommended yours. This episode has especially blessed me today as I am ending one job and, in a week, I will be beginning a new one– completely different. I am absolutely a beginner, and I know that shame feeling you mentioned… Having you speak that out loud has pulled that silent stumbling block into view. Now, with it in the light, I will be able to recognize it, be kind to myself, and maybe even avoid some clumsy stumbles! I also joined hope*writers last week, so it seems I have embarked upon another beginning as well. Here’s to the joy ahead and all the stresses that will only make the process more refining! Thank you for your words!
Oh, Emily! Once again you touched a chord in my chaotic mess of a life! Awake in the middle of the night, fighting off a panic attack, and feeling completely vulnerable and a failure, you cut through my confusion and allowed the light of the moon the break through the clouds. A relatively new widow, nearing the end of building a new home, downsizing, sorting through 43 years of living, transitioning from a children’s minister to teaching the adult Sunday School class because of the sudden death of our pastor and navigating all these changes with Christ alone to guide me has caused me more stress than I can adequately express. Thank you for bringing clarity to my emotions and giving me permission to see that just about every area of my life involves admitting that God is calling me to trust him to be enough to carry me through and lead me in all these new beginnings. I just find myself asking, “Lord, just exactly why was it necessary to literally take me to this dark uncertain place where I am forced to be a beginner in every area of my life and to do it depending on you alone?” However, he daily amazes me by showing me that he is enough, and when I stumble(or more accurately, fall flat on my face), his grace picks me up and redeems my mistakes in amazing ways. Thank you, Emily, for giving me a place to process and express these thoughts.