“Stop dwelling on past events and brooding over days gone by. I am about to do something new; this moment it will unfold. Can you not perceive it? Even through the wilderness I shall make a way, and paths in the barren desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (REB)
The Israelites were mourning. They had been taken captive by the Babylonians. They yearned for the way things used to be when they worshiped the Lord in the temple in Jerusalem which the Babylonians had destroyed. They reminisced about their beautiful homes that lay in ruins, their gardens, and vineyards that were now overgrown. Worst of all, they grieved the loss of their loved ones in the war. Things were better, much better before. New Year’s is a time to reflect on the past, but it’s easy to get stuck there. The Lord encouraged the Israelites to live in the present and to pay attention to the good God was about to accomplish for them. God gave them hope. May God give us hope as we live in this moment, trusting that God will make a way for us even in the most difficult times.
Dr. Sam
