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.
(Isaiah 43:18-19)
God is constantly working in our lives to make us more like Christ. We often carry the weight of past sins or old identities like heavy stones.
Lent is not just about giving things up; it is also about clearing the “wasteland” of our old habits, the “former things” that is not pleasing to God and believing that God has forgiven us.
“Forgetting the former things” isn’t about erasing our past. It is about letting God change and transform us.
God is doing a “new thing” in us but our eyes are often so fixed on the wilderness we were in the we miss the fresh bubbling stream in front of us. God asks, “Do you not perceive it?”
When we dwell on past mistakes that God has already forgiven, we are essentially saying that our guilt is bigger than God’s grace. By holding onto “former things,” we keep our hands too full to receive the “new thing” God is trying to hand us.
Reflection Questions:
(1) What “former thing” are you still dwelling on? Is it a mistake from the past? Is it a grudge against someone?
(2) Where do I see a “stream” imy current “wasteland”?
(3) How can I help clear a path for someone else who is still stuck in their wilderness? (Who can I encourage, forgive, or serve today?)
Prayer
God of the Wilderness, thank you that You do not leave me in the dry places. Forgive me for dwelling on what is behind when you are calling me forward. Give me eyes to perceive the new life springing up in my heart and in my community. Help me to trust the path you are clearing, even when I cannot see the destination. Amen.
