New Thing

 

2021 is almost over.  I am certain that there are many responding to that statement with, “Thank Goodness.”  It has been another difficult year, filled with tough decisions, unfortunate circumstances, and trying times.  It is hard to shake off times that have frustrated us or made us sad.  Those feelings can be a result of loss, such as loss of a job or even loss of a loved one.  Those feelings can also be a result of us not being able to do things as we used to do.  For example, we may need to think twice about booking a vacation, wondering if we will be able to travel freely in a foreign country due to COVID.  It can also be something more day to day, such as thinking about putting on a mask before entering a store or bringing a vaccine card with us to enter a restaurant.  Many wonder, are the old days ever coming back?

Today’s verse has us focusing on God’s message to the Israelites, promising them deliverance into a new path for them.  God was making things new for them – as He does for us.  I believe verse 18 of Isaiah 43 is just as important as verse 19.

There God shares, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

That is so hard to do.  It is difficult to forget the past or the things that once were.  We may have enjoyed different things from the past, only to have new ways in front of us that may not be as comfortable or resonate with us.  It is during these times that God should be front and center in our lives.  He was with us in the past.  He knows how we felt during the past.  Yet ahead is the new – and God isn’t just going to be there for the new, He is creating the pathway for us.  Through his divine power, our lives will be full and will have just what God wants us to have.

We may look at the new path and say, “Nope, not for me.  I’d like to go back please!”  The new way, though, is God’s way and that will never leave us empty.  God’s path will bring us on the journey we need to be on.  As the verse states, He will create rivers in dry wastelands – He will create something out of desertedness.  He can always give us more out of loss, more out of frustration, more out of trying times.  When we persevere through those times with God, we always see a brighter sunshine ahead of us.

During 2022, let’s resolve to leave 2021 behind us and get excited for the newness that God will bring into our lives in 2022.  May our focus be on the new path ahead of us, forgetting what we need to forget from 2021 and living in the newly created river of 2022.  Blessings for the New Year!

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating the new path forward for us.  May we leave the old behind and be blessed with your mercy and love in 2022.