Isaiah
43:16-19
New
International Version (NIV)
16
This is what the Lord says—
he
who made a way through the sea,
a
path through the mighty waters,
17
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:
18
“Forget the former things;
do
not dwell on the past.
19
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.
I have read countless
verses that repeatedly tell us who God is and what he is capable of doing. He
isn't a weak God and he isn't afraid. He is strong and knows what he is doing.
But since we so often have absolutely no idea what our next step will be,
sometimes I think that we lose sight of God's character. We forget that he is
molding us through all of the twists and turns and is right there with us as we
experience them. That doesn't mean that they are twists and turns to him. No. I
think that those are his plans.
The "way in the wilderness" or the "streams in the
wasteland" may be new to us, new to our lives, but not to him. He knows
everything and not only that, he is strong enough and faithful enough to make
those paths for us. We just need to cling to him.
I have been learning (this past year especially), that it isn't about what path
we step onto at all. It's about the reasons behind stepping onto that path--right
or wrong God will use it.
Have you ever lacked the courage to try something new because you are so
focused on the end result? So what if it doesn't turn out how you imagined it,
that doesn't mean it will be bad. It could even mean that it will be better.
But that doesn't really matter does it? The idea of it being better. Because
the fear that is there, the fear that comes with something new, all of the
possibilities for failure, the possibilities of hurt and pain and sadness, the
possibilities of letting people down or having people let you down, all of
those new possibilities are so scary that it is hard to take that chance.
I don't think that God is
questioning whether or not we perceive this new thing with mocking tone or a
tone that says, "I can't believe that you are so stupid that you can't see
this new path that I am putting in front of you" I picture it as more of
excitement. I mean picture God with this awesome plan in store for you
excitedly saying "Can't you see what I have planned for you!? This is
going to be new and exciting and I am going to be with every step of the way.
This new adventure is for you, (insert your name here)."
This summer, no matter
where you are going to be, keep your heart and mind open to all of the new
possibilities. I wrote earlier that I don’t think it is about the path
that you take, but the reasons behind it. By stepping on the path do you think
it is drawing you closer to God? If the answer is yes, then how can that path not
be rewarding? If you have on your mind “How can I grow closer to Jesus today?”
I think that everything will turn out just fine, it could be messy, but I am also beginning to think that the mess is what makes life more interesting.
