This is what the Lord says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,
who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
“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.”
– Isaiah 43:18-19
A number of years ago, my wife and I along with our family made a move to a new town for a fresh start. It was a difficult decision for us. Something that we had put off for way too long. We had found ourselves in a circular rut and just couldn’t seem to move on without moving away. It has turned out to be the best thing for us. We both have grown and experienced challenges that were unique to the new environment and new relationships we have made.
Sometimes it can even be good things we need to leave behind in order to move on into the future God has planned for us. In this passage, the prophet reminds the children of Israel of the time when God “made a way through the sea” before revealing God’s challenge to “forget the former things.”
When God wants to take us to a new level, a new opportunity or a new understanding, He doesn’t want us to just look back at a former version of ourselves when things were going better and aim at that. He wants to make all things new and “new” implies “different.”
This truth can be trans-formative as it is applied to many areas of our lives. When it comes to our health, we shouldn’t aim at just getting back to a former weight, size or level of fitness. Our goal should be to become the best version of ourselves we can envision, today. Our success needs to be measured by more than just the numbers on the scale. Our “new thing” just might be more confidence, strength, endurance as well as greater respect and appreciation of the body God has given us.
What “new thing” are you being drawn to? The seeds have already been planted. God is bringing it to life. “Do you not perceive it?” What small steps can you take today to get your bearings aligned with the desired outcome?