On New Year’s Eve, I came across this verse from Isaiah 43: “‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing'” (18-19a, NIV)!
As it was for many, 2021 was a difficult year for me, so when I read these words, I felt a little thrill of hope that 2022 would be full of new, better things—bright and beautiful things that would make us forget the challenges of the last couple of years.
However, I’m also acutely aware that we don’t know what the future holds. So while part of me felt hopeful, some other cynical part of my heart couldn’t help but wonder: What if 2022 isn’t any better than the past year?
Almost as soon as this question crossed my mind, I found my answer in the succeeding verses. Isaiah 43:19b-21 says: “‘I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise'” (NIV).
We’re still in the early weeks of 2022, and what the coming months will bring remains to be seen. But even if 2022 turns out to be a challenging year, God promises to provide refreshment for us in the midst of wastelands. Even in the hardest of circumstances, He is present and He sustains us. This truth encourages me to hold onto hope and trust that God will take care of me no matter what’s ahead, and I hope it encourages you, too!
