Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:18–19
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;
shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
When we look at the life of Joseph in Genesis 50:19–21, we see a man who had every earthly right to seek revenge. Betrayed, enslaved, and imprisoned — yet Joseph refused to take retribution into his own hands. Instead, he trusted God’s sovereignty, recognizing that even what others meant for evil, God was using for good.
That’s the posture of someone who knows God deeply. Joseph’s ability to forgive and show compassion wasn’t born from willpower; it came from trusting that his life was in God’s hands, not man’s.
When we truly believe that God is sovereign and good, even in our suffering, it becomes easier to love others and release bitterness.
Paul’s life reminds us that even in what looks like delay or confinement, God’s purpose continues. While Paul was in prison, God’s blessings and power were still evident — he wasn’t out of God’s will. In fact, he wrote Philippians, Ephesians, and Colossians while imprisoned in Rome.
What the world saw as restriction, God used as revelation.
“God never wastes our time, though we may waste it by not sensing His purpose in the moment.”
If you’re in a season that feels stagnant, remember — He’s still working.
Through Isaiah, God told Israel not to remember the “former things.” He wanted them to stop looking back at their failures and disappointments so they could make room for what He was about to do next.
There is a time to remember — when reflecting on God’s faithfulness — but there is also a time to forget, to release the weight of what was.
You can’t move forward while clinging to the past.
“If we are stuck in the failures and disappointments of our past, we will never go forward to the new thing God has for us.”
God’s words through Isaiah were a reminder that He was about to establish something so powerful that the old would no longer compare.
God says, “I will make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
That means He has resources and plans we can’t see yet. He’s not asking us to understand how — He’s asking us to trust that He can.
As I meditated on this verse, I heard the Lord say:
“I’m doing a new thing. But if you are unwilling to let go of the past, you’ll miss it and resist Me. In your natural mind, it seems impossible, but I will make a road in the wilderness. Don’t hyperfocus on the new thing I’m doing, or you’ll make an idol out of it.”
Sometimes, our excitement about what’s ahead can subtly replace our dependence on the One leading us there. God calls us to stay focused on Him, not just the promise.
Father God, thank You for the gift of revelation and for speaking to me through Your Word.
Forgive me for being so focused on the past that I’ve missed the new thing You’re trying to do.
Give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a softened heart to receive what You are birthing in this season.
Thank You for making a way in my wilderness and rivers in my dry places.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
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