New Moon, New Beginnings
Embracing Recovery and Renewal
New Moon, New Beginnings: Embracing Recovery and Renewal
There are nights during the new moon phase that the sky appears to me like a velvet canvas, dark and vast, with the new moon hiding in its quiet mystery. There’s something sacred about this phase that reminds me of a fresh start, a whisper of possibility. For me, this new moon feels like a divine invitation to reflect on my journey of recovery and renewal, a path that’s been both brutal and beautiful, humbling and holy.
I’ve spent years wrestling with shame. It’s a heavy thing, isn’t it? Like a chain that wraps around your heart, convincing you that you’re unworthy, unlovable, and unredeemable. For so long, I believed the lie that my mistakes defined me. I carried the weight of my failures, broken relationships, missed opportunities, and moments where I let myself and others down. I thought, How could God love someone like me? How could I ever be enough? But God, in His relentless grace, has been teaching me a different story, and so have the ones around me who have chosen to stand by my side and show me that I am worth loving.
Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I clung to that verse in my darkest moments, when shame threatened to swallow me whole. It reminded me that God doesn’t run from my brokenness. He draws near. He sees every tear, every regret, and He doesn’t turn away. That truth became my lifeline. It’s not about being perfect; it’s about being His.
Overcoming shame has meant looking at myself through God’s eyes, not the world’s. The world tells us our worth is tied to what we do, what we have, or how others see us. But God? He says, “You are fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). He says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). Those aren’t just pretty words—they’re a declaration of who I am, who you are, in Christ. My worth isn’t rooted in my past or my performance; it’s anchored in His unchanging love.
Recovery ( I use that word a lot in my writing, and it’s broad in its meaning for me; addiction, mental health, self-esteen, spiritual faith, are all grouped into that one word) has been about surrendering the lie of self-sufficiency. I used to think I could fix myself, that if I just tried harder, prayed more, or got my act together, I’d be okay. But the truth is, I was exhausted. I was running on empty, trying to earn grace that was already mine. Galatians 2:20 became my anthem: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” Letting go of my need to control everything and trusting Jesus to work in me has been freeing. It’s not about striving; it’s about abiding.
Getting my life pointed in the right direction hasn’t been a straight line. It’s been messy, nonlinear, and sometimes I’ve taken two steps forward and three steps back. But God is patient. He’s been teaching me to trust His timing, to take small, faithful steps toward healing. For me, that’s meant therapy, honest conversations with trusted friends, and spending time in His Word. It’s meant forgiving myself, which is harder than it sounds. It’s meant believing that my story isn’t over, that God is still writing something beautiful.
This new moon, I’m choosing to embrace renewal. I’m letting go of the old narratives that kept me stuck “you’re not enough, you’ll never change, you’re too broken.” Instead, I’m leaning into 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” I’m not who I was. I’m becoming who God created me to be, one day at a time.
If you’re reading this and you feel weighed down by shame or stuck in a cycle of self-doubt, can I tell you something? You are not alone. Your mistakes don’t get the final word; God does. He’s not finished with you. He’s calling you to rise, to step into the new thing He’s doing in your life. Isaiah 43:19 promises, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” That’s His heart for you—new beginnings, fresh hope, a way forward.
Tonight, as I look at the dark sky, I’m filled with gratitude. This new moon tonight, even though it can’t be seen, is a leap of faith and a reminder that even in the darkness, God is at work. He’s renewing me, restoring me, and pointing my life toward His purpose. And He’s doing the same for you. Let’s walk this road together, trusting that His love is enough to carry us through.
Keep Looking Up,
-g