Does God really give second chances?

Yes. The Bible is full of people who failed badly, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and were restored by God's mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says his compassions are new every morning. His grace is not a limited number of chances; it is his character.

Have I used up my chances with God?

No. There is no counter running out. Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven, an image of mercy without limit, and God is more merciful than he asks us to be. However many times you have fallen, you can come again today.

How do I start over with God?

You simply come, honestly, as you are. Tell him the truth about where you have been, ask for his mercy, and take one small step back toward him. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess, he is faithful and just to forgive.

Second chances

The God of Second Chances

The God of the Bible is a God of second chances, and third chances, and more. His whole story is full of people who failed badly and were met with mercy, not because their sin was small, but because his love is that large. However far you have gone, or however many times you have tried and fallen, his mercies are new every morning. It is not too late to begin again with him.

If you have been carrying a quiet sentence over yourself, that you have used up your chances, that you are the exception, that God helps other people start over but not you, this page is for you.

You are not too far gone. You are not the one story God cannot redeem.

What the Bible says

“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten.”

Joel 2:25

“And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”

Luke 15:20

A book full of second chances

Scripture does not hide its heroes’ failures. Moses was a murderer. David betrayed and killed. Peter denied Jesus three times, with cursing, on the worst night. Paul hunted Christians. Every one of them was met not with a shrug and not with a lecture, but with mercy that put them back on their feet and gave them something to do. God does not merely tolerate people who have failed. He restores them, and often uses the very place of their failure.

The word for it is grace: a love you did not earn and cannot un-earn. It is the whole point of the cross. Christ died for us while we were still in the wrong (Romans 5:8), which means his welcome was never waiting on you getting it right first.

One small step: before God tonight, name the one thing you are sure disqualifies you, out loud or on paper. Then read Luke 15 slowly, and notice that the father runs. You can also simply ask someone to pray with you.

When you are ready: How do I actually start over with God? →

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Come and be met by mercy

Jesus told a story about a son who wasted everything and came home ashamed, rehearsing his apology. But while he was still a great way off, his father saw him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. That is the heart of God toward you. You do not have to clean yourself up first. You only have to come. Read it for yourself, or simply let someone pray with you tonight.

Read the story of the running Father Ask someone to pray Come and see

Jesus Christ is Lord.

Questions people ask

Does God really give second chances?: Yes. The Bible is full of people who failed badly, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, and were restored by God's mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says his compassions are new every morning. His grace is not a limited number of chances; it is his character.
Have I used up my chances with God?: No. There is no counter running out. Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven, an image of mercy without limit, and God is more merciful than he asks us to be. However many times you have fallen, you can come again today.
How do I start over with God?: You simply come, honestly, as you are. Tell him the truth about where you have been, ask for his mercy, and take one small step back toward him. 1 John 1:9 promises that if we confess, he is faithful and just to forgive.

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