Have you had days where you desperately wished for the before? Before the tragedy. Before the heartache. Before the thing that left you forever scarred.
A couple of years ago we went through a very difficult time as a family. I remember feeling a kaleidoscope of emotions. Grief. Anger. Betrayal. Sorrow. Loss. Questions…so many questions. I physically ached to turn back the clock to a time before our hearts had been broken.
I read the Word often but felt engulfed by fog.
I prayed and journaled constantly but felt lost.
I grappled with a profound heavenly silence that made me feel unseen.
the before
Grab your Bible and read Isaiah 43:16-22.
Verses 16-17 call to mind the exodus and all the miraculous things God did to bring the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. All of a sudden verse 18 whips our heads around and says “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.” (ESV) What?!
The exodus was a defining moment for the nation of Israel. God’s power and might were on full display. It was an unbelievable show of force, an undeniable expression of love. What could possibly be wrong with remembering the before?
the problem with nostalgia
When hubs is driving a tractor pulling an implement, his spine and neck are twisted in an unnatural way because he has to look backwards. When he gets off the tractor he always has a sore back and a stiff neck.
Nostalgia becomes a twisted spine and stiff neck if we’re not careful.
The past. The good old days. Before.
How can we possibly see in front of us when we’re all contorted trying to look backwards? Spiritual discernment requires our eyes to be looking ahead to a place we haven’t yet seen.
the divine providence
After the prior verses, 19 feels like an exciting announcement. Hey, don’t worry about yesterday or yesteryear. I’m doing something new, the Lord says. My provision for your circumstance is right in front of you! Can’t you see it?
During the exodus God provides dry ground for the people to walk on in the middle of a sea. Now in verse 19 we see he provides water when they’re in a desert. He made a way for them to walk away with the riches of Egypt during the exodus, and now he will make a way in the wilderness when they have nothing.
Do you see? Can you perceive it? God was making a way in every situation.
The way he shows up for us today will look different than it looked last time but it will be exactly what we need, right when we need it. He wants to continually give us a fresh taste of his divine providence.
the big threat
What robbed the Israelites from discerning the wonderful new things God was doing? Verse 22 tells us:
- they stopped praying and deliberately evaded meaningful time with the Lord
- they grew weary of God like he was some demanding ogre so their worship and sacrifices became rote and meaningless
Have you grown tired of calling out to the Lord? Have you started to view him like the Israelites did because you aren’t seeing him fix whatever situation you’re in right now?
the only answer
Jesus is the only answer.
Prayer is where the power is. Relationship with the Lord is where our hope comes from. Don’t miss out on discerning what he is doing for you today.
Praying for you,
Rhonda