Expect New Things

Isaiah 43:16-17
“Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:  ‘Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.’”

Oh, friends, we have finally come to my favorite part!  

I love that God promises Israel “a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19)!

When the season of hurt lingers, when hope has felt far away for far too long, isn’t this what we long for?  

For God’s grace and provision to flow onto the barren and hardened soil of our heart?

We have found in this encouraging passage to the Israelites three perspective-shifting steps to help us as we navigate our wilderness seasons.  The final piece of the puzzle is simply to allow our hearts to expect God to do new things!

Notice, too, that God does those new things in the wilderness.  The Israelites did not have to find their way out of difficulty in order to receive God’s blessings.  No, He promised to “make a way in the wilderness” (Isaiah 43:19).  

This may be hard, but we need to expect God to work in and through our hard times.  If He chooses to deliver us from trials, He is greatly to be praised. But if He chooses to leave us in our trials for a season or even plant us in the wilderness. . .He is still greatly to be praised.

For there, in our most desperate days, He promises to do something new.

For me, this new work began to look like a new heart.  Oh, I had already been given a new heart when I accepted salvation through Jesus! But in life’s most challenging season, God began to grow and change my heart.  

It looked like more compassion for others.

It looked like a deeper, more passionate love for Jesus.

It looked like new hunger for and delight in His word!

If all I ever expected or looked for was a repeat of God’s past works, I never would have seen the changes happening in my own spirit.  

He longs to do the same for you.  

The ultimate fulfillment of this promise to do a “new thing” was sending Jesus to be our Savior.  Jesus is the living water for the barren desert of our souls.  Jesus is the way through the wilderness.

So friend, first and foremost, I hope you have Jesus.  I hope you have told him he is Lord of your life and you trust him to save you!

If so, be confident.  Be hopeful. Expect new things.  

The wilderness is still a difficult place to walk, but there is new, beautiful work to be done there.  

Until next time,

Shelby