The God of second chances.
May the grace and mercy of God abound in your life.
Then that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter: It is the Lord! Simon Peter, when he heard that it was the Lord, girded his clothes (because he had divested himself of it) and threw himself into the sea. John 21: 7
Garrison Keillor, radio comedian, loves to say that there is nothing like a slice of rhubarb cake to remove the taste of shame and humiliation from one's mouth. That's fun, but it's not true. And yet, every person longs for a way to cleanse the past; all yearn for the innumerable second chances that life seems to require. Happily, God is the God of second chances.
It all comes down to his grace and his mercy. Grace gives us blessings that we do not deserve; Mercy retains the punishment we deserve. The list of people in the Bible who experienced grace and mercy is long and worthy of notice. Moises, the murderer, had a second chance, as did David, the adulterer. Jonah, the rebellious prophet, was shown mercy. Noemi was allowed to return to her home to start over. Paul was forgiven for persecuting Jesus, as well as Peter for denying him.Grace and mercy extend to all who receive them.
If you need a second chance in life, receive it from God (1 John 1: 9). And, having received theirs, extend the same mercy and love to others (Ephesians 4:32).
amen
Ameen