“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
Your story may have taken a road you never planned, but God isn’t finished writing it.
Do you believe that?
It may be the end of a chapter, but the story is not over. You may be in the beginning of a new chapter, and you are unsure of what is ahead or you may be in the middle of a chapter that does not seem to have an ending. Consider this your reminder that He is already working ahead on your behalf.
Many times we refer to Jeremiah 29:11 as the quintessential verse to remind us of the amazing future God has for us. This is true-He does. But we need to remember that the book of Jeremiah was written to the Jewish people who had been taken captive to Babylon. They were prisoners in a foreign land. They were not experiencing the promise yet.
I want to remind you of three truths today:
- God sees you in your present circumstances.
You may feel forgotten, overwhelmed, or overlooked. But your current season is not hidden from God. He sees the late nights, the difficult decisions, the tears you wipe away before your children see them, and the strength it takes to keep going. You are not forgotten by God.
- Your story is not over.
Jeremiah spoke these words to God’s people while they were living in exile. God was giving them hope while they waited through a difficult season. He wasn’t promising an immediate escape from their circumstances. In the same way, this verse isn’t a promise that life will suddenly become easy. It reminds us that we can trust God’s faithfulness even when we cannot see what comes next. This chapter may be hard, but it is not the whole story.
- Hope is still possible for your future.
Maybe you are rebuilding financially, emotionally, spiritually, or relationally. Perhaps you’re trying to discover who you are outside of the relationship you lost. God can meet you in this season and lead you forward one step at a time. Your identity is not limited to someone whose life didn’t go as planned. You are still God’s beloved daughter, with a future worth living.
God promises us He can create “rivers in the dry wasteland.” No matter how you are feeling today, you can believe and hold onto the Truth of God’s Word. Notice the line before it states, “He has already begun(!)” Can we live in the Truth that He is already working on your behalf and for your good even if you cannot see it or feel it today?
What would it look like to trust God with the next chapter rather than trying to control the entire story?
“Father, help us to trust you and know you have not forgotten us, even when it feels like it.”
For His Glory
Terrie Tollerson (www.TerrieTollerson.com)
TRBC Women’s Ministry
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