Those of us living in southern British Columbia are seeing cherry trees bloom already. Purple crocuses and sunshine-yellow daffodils have blossomed. Even rhododendrons have flowered. Spring has arrived, and with it comes new life, new beginnings, new hope.
Creation itself reminds us that God is all about newness. And heaven knows we need those reminders occasionally.
Sometimes we get stuck in the memories or aftermath of a painful past. Or we feel frustrated at our inability to overcome a bad habit. Or we find ourselves in a situation that cries for a breakthrough before we can move forward. We can languish in that place unless we remember and believe that God desires, and will accomplish, something new and wonderful on our behalf:
“I am the LORD who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. I called forth the mighty army of Egypt with all its chariots and horses. I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned, their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick. But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do a brand-new thing. See? I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness for my people to come home. I will create rivers for them in the desert!…Yes, I will make springs in the desert, so that my chosen people can be refreshed” (Isaiah 43:16-21 NLT).
I read these verses and recall the many ways in which I’ve witnessed God’s faithfulness in the past. I can almost His voice: “You think the way I cared for you in the past was fantastic? You think my provision for you back then was amazing? Well, my dear daughter—you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet!”
The LORD—the Creator of the universe—speaks only words that are true. He doesn’t make promises unless He intends to deliver. So when He says He’s going to do a brand-new thing on our behalf, we know this brand-new thing is a guarantee. No need to languish or lose hope. We only need to wait with confident expectation on His timing, trusting Him and thanking Him in advance for what He’s going to do. It likely won’t turn out as we expect, but it will be good.
Photo courtesy of pic monkey.com
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