Isaiah 43:18-19 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
Letting Go of Yesterday
So often, our hearts find comfort in the well-worn paths of what has been. Isaiah 43:18 gently urges us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” God’s invitation here is not to deny or erase our history, but to loosen our grip on it. Our past, with its triumphs and trials, can become a lens that limits our vision for what is possible. In faith, we are called to step out from the shadow of yesterday, trusting that God’s plan is not constrained by what has always been.
“See, I am doing a new thing!” God’s declaration in Isaiah 43:19 is both a promise and a challenge. It asks us to lift our eyes and perceive the ways God is moving—often subtly, sometimes dramatically—outside our expectations. Embracing God’s new way means choosing hope over nostalgia, openness over resistance. It means believing, even when evidence is scant, that the Creator is still at work, crafting fresh stories of grace, redemption, and purpose.
Yet, stepping into the new is rarely effortless. It invites us to trust in God’s wisdom when the terrain ahead is unfamiliar and the future uncertain. Our natural inclination is to cling to what is known, but faith asks us to move forward, confident that God’s guidance will never falter. In moments of uncertainty, we are reminded that the One who makes rivers in the wasteland is also able to bring life and possibility to the places in our lives that feel barren or overlooked. Each day becomes an opportunity to witness God’s unfolding creativity—a sacred invitation to participate in the renewal God is bringing.
As we journey onward, let us cultivate a posture of expectation. Rather than anticipating repetition, we open our hearts to transformation, trusting that God’s new way will surpass anything we have previously understood. The miracles of tomorrow may look different from the victories of yesterday, but their origin remains the same—a loving Creator, ever faithful and ever imaginative. May we greet each new beginning with courage, gratitude, and a willingness to be surprised by grace, knowing that God’s promise to “do a new thing” is not only an echo from ancient words, but an ongoing reality in our lives today. Learn from your past do not live in it, may we all move forward and embrace the life God has for us today!
In Yeshua,
~Shannon Wendler 🕊️
Letting Go of Yesterday
So often, our hearts find comfort in the well-worn paths of what has been. Isaiah 43:18 gently urges us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.” God’s invitation here is not to deny or erase our history, but to loosen our grip on it. Our past, with its triumphs and trials, can become a lens that limits our vision for what is possible. In faith, we are called to step out from the shadow of yesterday, trusting that God’s plan is not constrained by what has always been.
“See, I am doing a new thing!” God’s declaration in Isaiah 43:19 is both a promise and a challenge. It asks us to lift our eyes and perceive the ways God is moving—often subtly, sometimes dramatically—outside our expectations. Embracing God’s new way means choosing hope over nostalgia, openness over resistance. It means believing, even when evidence is scant, that the Creator is still at work, crafting fresh stories of grace, redemption, and purpose.
Yet, stepping into the new is rarely effortless. It invites us to trust in God’s wisdom when the terrain ahead is unfamiliar and the future uncertain. Our natural inclination is to cling to what is known, but faith asks us to move forward, confident that God’s guidance will never falter. In moments of uncertainty, we are reminded that the One who makes rivers in the wasteland is also able to bring life and possibility to the places in our lives that feel barren or overlooked. Each day becomes an opportunity to witness God’s unfolding creativity—a sacred invitation to participate in the renewal God is bringing.
As we journey onward, let us cultivate a posture of expectation. Rather than anticipating repetition, we open our hearts to transformation, trusting that God’s new way will surpass anything we have previously understood. The miracles of tomorrow may look different from the victories of yesterday, but their origin remains the same—a loving Creator, ever faithful and ever imaginative. May we greet each new beginning with courage, gratitude, and a willingness to be surprised by grace, knowing that God’s promise to “do a new thing” is not only an echo from ancient words, but an ongoing reality in our lives today. Learn from your past do not live in it, may we all move forward and embrace the life God has for us today!
In Yeshua,
~Shannon Wendler 🕊️