A New Beginning

By: Joanne Viola

 

Soon my social media feed will be filled with back to school photos. Depending on where you live, you may already be seeing the photos. You know the ones …

Each child with their new clothes, new shoes, new backpacks filled with new supplies, and big smiles on their faces as they are excited to start a new year. The photos do not reveal stomachs which are filled with butterflies as we all anticipate a new beginning filled with unknowns.

We want to grow and stretch in unexplored areas yet we long for the comforts of the known.

The start of this school year has me thinking on the past and the future.

God wants us to remember the past. Looking at the past deeds of God assures me that God can be believed. He will surely do what He says He will do. However, in looking back we are not to limit God for He is a creative God.

His desire is for us to learn from the history of His people so that mistakes are need not be repeated but rather, they become lessons from which we learn and are encouraged.

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction,
so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures
we might have hope.”
(Romans 15:4, NASB)

This new school year also brings the reminder that our God enjoys doing new things:

“Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.
“Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
(Isaiah 43:18-19, NASB)

What can we learn about new beginnings?

1. God wants us to look forward. While we are not to forget the lessons He has taught us, we are not to live stuck in the past. We are to look forward – in faith – to all that our God is yet going to do in our lives.
2. God holds the plan in His hands. God already knows what He is going to do. We may not see His plan fully but He knows exactly what He will bring about. He has it all prepared for us.
3. God will guide us. The same way God guided the Israelites through a wilderness they had not yet traveled, He will be with us in our new beginnings.

Today may you hear Him whisper:
“Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.”
(Isaiah 43:19, MSG)

 

Reflection:
Are you looking forward to the future with fear or anticipation? Which of the three reminders above do you need to focus on so that you may look forward with anticipation?

 

Image by Vinicius Imbroisi from Pixabay