My earliest memories as a child was living in a very small house that my dad and grandpa had built. They had both worked days at their respective jobs and when they finished, they rushed home. Once there, they would work into the night using an oil lantern, hammers and a hand saw to build our house. It was a two bedroom, no bath house of about 800 square feet. It was exciting for my parents and sisters, and I would be born later in that very house. This was a “new thing” for our little family.

After I came along, an addition was added complete with a bathroom and tub for bathing. No more baths in the metal #10 tub in the center of the kitchen floor. No more going to the outhouse to read the Sears Roebuck catalog. We were doing a “new thing!”

In the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we find that Israel had rebelled against God by making and worshiping idols. As a result, God raised up the Assyrians to conquer the Israelites. Shortly thereafter, the Babylonians came and took many of them back to Babylon as slaves. In chapter 43:18-19, God is speaking through His prophet Isaiah to the defeated and captive nation of Israel, and He says,

“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. Then He goes on to say, “Shall you not know it?” In other words, “Will this happen, and you miss it?”

I believe what God was saying to these people is that they should not live in the past. It is too late to accomplish anything back there. What has happened is history. He is pointing them to the future where He will reveal His love, care and provisions for them. He’s inviting them to join with Him in the “new thing” that He’s about to do. He doesn’t want them to miss it while dwelling on the past. Now, this occurred almost three thousand years ago, and you know what? I believe that God is still sending out that same message.

Horacio Jones once wrote, “Instead of saying, “I’m damaged, I’m broken, I have trust issues,” say, “I’m healing, I’m rediscovering myself, I’m starting over.” In other words, “I am opting in on the ‘new thing’ that God wants to do in my life.”

Jesus Himself said in Luke 9:62, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”  

Dr. Adrian Rogers once said, “Men throw broken things away, but God never uses anything until He first allows it to be broken.” If that is true, then here is the good news for many of you. Your brokenness is behind you! You are now infinitely prepared to do great things for God and others.

As a small child, our little 800 square foot house seemed huge. I don’t remember ever complaining that our house was too small. While taking a bath in that #10 wash tub in the middle of our small kitchen, I don’t remember whining about not having a real bath tub. I also didn’t mind the short walk in the back yard to the outhouse. It was an adventure every time I went!

If you are waiting for someone else to change the circumstances in your life so that you will be happy, you will never be truly happy. You will be living a performance-based existence. In other words, when others are performing well, you will be content and when they’re not, you will be miserable.

On the other hand, if you choose to be one that is always looking for the “new thing” that God is doing in your life, you will be far too busy to dwell in negativity.  After all,

He’s doing a new thing.  Now, it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?

Don’t miss it!