"Do not call to mind the former things, nor ponder the events of the past. Behold, I will do something new. Now it will spring forth, Will you not be aware of it?" I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:18-19
Working in emotional healing there is a tendency to think of past events often. Yet there comes a point when we need to move forward, to forget those things of the past and not dredging them up anymore.
This is vastly different than simply stuffing our emotional hurts and pains down and trudging on hoping for a better state. Of course, the Lord calls us to let Him heal us in the way He sees fit. And when the time is right, He calls us to move forward and forget those former things. When you slow it down, and read the verse above, word by word, I believe the command is so powerful and demands us to respond in no other way than to cry out to our King for assistance.
"Do not call to mind the former things"...
In other words, things in the past, whether events or even the old way of doing something, don't call them up, don't ruminate on them any longer. Forget those things of old.
One might protest tp this command yet we are called to be like our God and He willingly forgets our sins. He makes it as though it never even happened! In a sense, our God time travels back to our past, wipes away our sin and makes it as though it never happened. If you read later in Isaiah 43, it's as if the Lord knew we might struggle with this idea because in verse twenty five He says this-
25 "I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."
He blots out our sin and for His sake, remembers it no more.
BOOM! Isn't that the best news EVER???
In our days, at this time in our world, many are asking for a new thing, whether it's healing, prospering, and/or a shift in any area of life, yet this verse demands us to look inwardly and ask ourselves a pointed question- "Have I forgotten the former things, or am I dredging them up and clinging to it?"
We can get in the way of the miracle and wonder the Lord means to do in and through us.
Psalm 78:41 says they children of Israel tempted God, or limited Him and grieved Him.
Jesus couldn't do miracles in certain areas because of the people's unwillingness to believe. (Matthew 13:58)
Our Father God is asking something of us that requires such little effort, and He brings an incredible blessing once we do it.
We may not be aware of what He desires to do because of our unwillingness to forget the former things.
Just what is it that He wants to do?
So glad you asked!
Create a roadway in a wilderness, rivers in a desert.
The LORD repeats His intentions in verse 20, "...because I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the deserts to give drink to My people, whom I formed for Myself..."
Waters has incredible significance in the Word of God. In John 7 Jesus announces the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be as “Rivers of living water”. This would represent Spirit's presence and power poured out on Jesus' followers, then flowing through us as we move in the Spirit. In addition, Spirit's presence points to the cleansing and sanctifying work in the hearts of God's children. Throughout the scriptures water is representative of healing, purifying, deliverance, and also destroying enemies.
A roadway in the wilderness... The wilderness represents times of uncertainty. Remember when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, they were never sure what tomorrow would bring- they faced complete and total uncertainty. Hindsight is a lovely thing, which we have as we read the Word and their stories. Yet they had to walk by faith in this new God that they were only just beginning to understand. Though they saw miracle after miracle, they seem to have much uncertainty in their hearts and minds. Our God over and over proved Himself faithful to them. And here in Isaiah, He says all over again, "I'm doing this new thing!", and He's saying the same to us today. When you face a wilderness experience, you may be overwhelmed with questions of what tomorrow may bring for you. But when we search the scriptures we have ample evidence that He will make a roadway in the wilderness. We may be walking through uncertain times and seasons but all we need to do is look to our King, and remember, He has made a roadway, a path, in this wilderness. It is unnecessary to wander in uncertainly. In the wilderness, don’t go running off in any direction, hoping to find a way out. Pause and look for God’s roadway. His roadway will give you a crystal clear path with plenty of signs to follow. My dear friend says that when we don't know which direction to take just yet, always go with standing orders- a military term meaning, last orders you were given. Perhaps you don't have the path or roadway because it is not yet the right time to move out. Consider sitting and waiting upon the Lord, to twist yourself up in Him and His goodness as you pray.
Where there was a wilderness, the Lord means to bring life and where there was the bone dry of the desert places in our lives He is bringing a refreshing healing power of vitality and strength. In those places that were created by the ancient foe, our enemy, our Abba, our Dread Champion, desires to take him out completely.
If you are finding yourself in a place of transition or a shifting of sorts, use this passage to encourage you in letting go of the old, the former ways of doing things and the past events that may have hurt you. Know that He is ready to work a new something in your life. Right now, NOW it will spring forth.
Be aware of it, hope for it-pray into it.
It is a pleasure for me to pray into new seasons for other people, if you are aware of a new season, let us know so we can partner with you in prayer and rejoice when the victory comes.
If you know you are in need of emotional healing and are ready to learn how, consider connecting with us so that we can share some emotion healing resources created just for you.