Turn the Page
Part of my morning routine is changing the blocks on my desk calendar to reflect the current date. It’s part of a rhythm that helps ground me before the day fully begins. It’s also the beginning of a habit stack that cues me to read a devotional from Unshakeable by Christine Caine. This book is always open and intentionally sits just behind my desk calendar.
Most days, I can read the devotional from the left side of the page or the right side of the page, depending on the date. On some days, however, I have to turn the page to read the devotional. Lately, that simple motion has been speaking to me. Not so much audible, moreso in a gentle, soul-stirring way that God so often nudges me.
It’s like He’s asking…
“Are you ready to move forward?”
“Are you ready to see what’s next?”
“Are you read to turn the page?”
You see, turning the page isn’t just about flipping to the next date or reading a new entry. It’s a spiritual posture. It’s choosing not to stay where I’ve been just because it’s familiar — mentally, emotionally, physically, or even spiritually.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
-Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
This verse has always held comfort – “New Morning = New Mercies”. Lately though, it seems like more of an invitation.
An offer to stop replaying the same thoughts and actions on loop.
A reminder that I don’t have to keep dragging yesterday into today.
But, if I’m honest, sometimes I do…😔
Sometimes I wake up already holding the weight of the day before…
That conversation I had.
That thing I didn’t get done.
Those feelings I still haven’t sorted through.
It’s frustrating! There seems to be a constant tug between knowing that I have access to God’s new mercies each day and still feeling stuck in old patterns. I mean, should I not be able to live in the present of the new day and not bring yesterday with me?
But maybe that’s where grace meets us most — right in the middle of that tug of war. When I’m honest about how hard it can be to let go, even when we want to. (Any controlling overthinkers out there? No? Just me…ok. 😏)
Want to know some of the ways I’ve had to turn the page?
- Giving myself permission to rest, even when the to-do list is still full
- Choosing to respond differently (or not at all) this time — even if the other person hasn’t changed
- Letting go of the apology I never got
- Saying “I was wrong” or “I forgive you” without needing to explain all the things in-between
- Noticing the new mercies, even when they show up quietly
Some pages are much harder to turn. Especially the ones written with disappointment, grief, or unmet expectations. I’m still working on those. And maybe the struggle itself is a nudge — a quiet reminder that you’re not meant to stay stuck there forever.
That’s worth repeating (to myself, if not you): I am not meant to stay stuck there forever!
There’s more to be written.
Today’s mercy is not a copy of yesterday’s.
It’s new.
It’s fresh.
It’s specifically tailored to where you are right now!
Those heavy pages — the ones that we have to muster up strength to turn — carry more weight, more history, more emotion. But even those pages are too much for God. His grace is big enough for the heavy ones, too.
Is there a page you’ve been holding on to?
What would it look life for you to turn that page today?