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. Isaiah 43:19
I love history and learning about historic preservation. I especially enjoy learning America’s heritage. We preserve historic landmarks, buildings, houses and other such markers. This way, they are available to pass along to future generations.
Children yet to be born will have stories, records, and tangible things to hold onto along with a regard for the importance of historic preservation. Then they grow up understanding their heritage and those who fought for what they enjoy today.
There are, however, some things in our lives we need to remove in order to make room for the new.
God knows what those things are because He made us.
He knows what should stay with us and what should not, and why. It could be negative memories that hold us back, or other memories we hold on to that no longer serve a purpose to help or protect us, but that hinder instead. He gives us the gift of memory for a number of reasons. But to hold us back from healing or growing are not part of those.
So to help us continue on, He invites us to notice when He is doing a new thing.
New can be familiar in a way, like a fresh pair of jeans that are a brand we always buy. But sometimes we cannot find the same things we are used to and have to try a different type. Once we do we end up liking the different, but other times we don’t.
And when new means unknown, some people do not like what appears as surprises because they have experienced too many bad ones. This is why we plan and handle details as far in advance as possible so we know what to expect and can feel in control.
God knows the new is not always easy. He had to remind His people who thought it might be better to remain as slaves in Egypt than to trust Him to get them to something better. He had to remind them that, when they could not see what was ahead, He could be trusted.
Sometimes God gives more information about what He is leading us to next and other times He gives only a little to go on while expecting us to move forward.
We might not realize at present how God is showing us the new. We may not perceive it yet which means we need to keep looking out. It means continuing to seek Him in prayer and in His Word. It doesn’t matter if you can see or sense yet what God is doing new. Just know that He is. He is not hiding or playing games, but working in your life and circumstances.
Know that He is making a way where there is no way, where there is nothing you can imagine happening any different than usual.
It may be years away or tomorrow. But turn to Him. Ask Him what He is doing and wants to do. See what He says.
Look again at verse 19 in context here in Isaiah 43: 18-21:
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Does that sound like a God who wants people to be stuck anywhere?
God is always working to restore us. We are in continual need of restoration because we are not perfect. Because He is perfect, we can trust His ways of working in our lives to renew us.
He doesn’t just leave us where we are. He loves us too much to do that. He doesn’t put us on a shelf.
If we will respond to Him and trust His goodness, He will keep going with us to something new, making “a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland” in order to get us there.
Ask God to show you where you might not be perceiving what He’s doing new. It can be easy to miss good things He is offering for being stuck holding on to some other things. Ask God to show you how to let go so your heart will be open. He knows what you should let go of. He has a plan in mind that you could never have asked or imagined He would do. Let Him.
