A New Thing

God doesn't often audibly talk to me. I don't often claim His promises. Silly? Possibly...but now things might be changing.

My first week back at Grace I had the privilege of helping a wise, godly older gentleman with technological things. He, in turn, prayed for me that this would be the best semester of my college experience so far and that God would bless me. As I walked from the meeting back to my dorm, down the steps and out the door, I heard clearly "I am doing a new thing."

Wow. I recognized those words, I knew they were powerful, and joy overwhelmed up in me. I knew I was walking into a new school year, new experiences, living in a different place, facing different classes and different challenges and I was thrilled that God would be doing something new.

I have now been at Grace for over 4 weeks. Classes are half-way over and the leaves are just starting to switch colors and drop to the sidewalk so I can go out of my way to step on them and hear that satisfying "crunch". The air is turning crisp and I am running here and there, busy, waking up late for class, and overwhelmed. My emotions are a rollercoaster and the pain of the hurt and loss from last year is flooding back.

But God is also reminding me of His sweet promise. He is doing a new thing.

I looked up that phrase and found it in Isaiah 43:19. The whole chapter is about the Lord, the Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel comforting, assuring, confronting, being merciful and forgiving. Verse 18 says "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." Verse 25 says "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more."

God is doing a new thing this year in my heart, my mind, my relationships, and especially my relationship with Him. He will provide healing, He will work things to His glory, He will take care of me. There is no need to dwell on the past and there is great hope for the future.

Praise the Lord!