“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19 ESV

New.  Those three letters send a tingle of excitement when used as an adjective.  New clothes, new car, new house, new recipe, new anything seems to evoke feelings of hope for something, well, new.

The word can also inspire a bit of fear of the unknown.  New boss, new policy, new lump are words that can turn our tummies inside out.

But what about a new thing?  What thing?  What is the thing?  Will it hurt?  Will it be something I recognize as new?

Almost seven years ago this verse appeared on the same day in three different devotionals I was reading.  And something new did happen but it took a while for me to catch on.  I think I’m still seeing all the new that began even before then and here we are again at a New Year.

God has promised beauty from ashes and I believe that.  I also think I’m seeing the beginnings of that beauty.   From the time I made the decision to move from Arizona to my home state of Alabama I have encountered “new”.  New weather, new scenery, new living space, new relationships, new job, new interests and new feelings.  Some of the new feelings have been hard, like missing my children, my church, friends, a place that is mine, my job, and familiar things.  I still miss them but there’s a sense of expectancy that something new is happening.  My latest new is having my daughter move here with me after driving with her across the country to get here.  Our together new is finding a place for us to live.

When I think of it, we encounter new every day of our lives even though we may go through the same routines.  New opportunities are everywhere; sometimes we just don’t recognize them.

What new thing is happening?  I’m not sure yet but I’m ready for whatever new God has for my life.  It’s exciting and scary all at once, but that’s a new feeling I’m ready to embrace.  In His time, all things will be new.  Gotta love that.

Happy New Year!