“Do not remember the former things, or ponder the things of the past. Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18-19
As I see it, there are two distinct phases of coronavirus lockdown: the phase where you are waiting for things to get back to normal, and the phase where you let go of all previous “normal,” and begin to build what will be next.
Our state announced this week that school students would not return to classrooms until the fall. Up until that moment, I had been living in the hope of Nicolas going back to school and our lives returning to normal. The answer to all of our current difficulties, my husband and I were certain would come “when he goes back to school.” We were able to just hang in there, in a protective posture, knowing that when school got back to normal, so would everything else.
Thankfully, I found a scripture that helped me snap out of my longing for what used to be. Isaiah 43:18-19 is God reminding the Israelites (as He often has to remind me) to keep looking forward. Expect and embrace the new things He is doing. God is always on the move, and it is beneficial to us if we can remember to go with Him rather than drag our heels. He always will provide for us in the new place.
I have found that letting go of what would have been has allowed me to shift my thoughts to a more healthy place. I hadn’t realized that I had placed so much emotional dependence on going back to school. Now that that isn’t an option, I can actually look for and move into new things. School’s not gonna happen. But that doesn’t mean nothing is going to happen. Somehow that small shift in thinking has freed me.
Photo credit: Skitterphoto on Pexels.com.
In the scripture referenced above, God says He will “put a road in the wilderness,” but is cautioning the Israelites that they’re going to miss it! If I keep waiting for life to get back to normal, I will miss the roads He is placing here and now, in this season. New strategies, new technology, new routines, and new grace for myself. I’m a super organized pre-planner. But if I’m always trying to fit the current situation into my previous plan, I’m going to miss out totally on the new thing and the new provision.
Here are some specific new things that have become helpful and strange provisions in this place: Zoom sessions with Nicolas’ coach, teachers, and therapists, where I disengage and am not a helicopter mom. Going for a walk every day by myself when dad gets home from the office, which delays dinner by up to one hour. Opening up our home for the first time ever to a respite care worker, who spends time with my son while I work.
Your “road in the wilderness” most certainly will be different than mine. But I can also promise you that it will be different than the road you’re used to. My encouragement for you today is to embrace the new and unfamiliar; there will be blessings and provision along the way.
Follow Melanie Gomez at https://redefinespecial.com and on Facebook.
