Watch for the new thing
There is a rumbling, something is happening, God is creating something new, do we notice it? The daily news and other media always report just the bad and terrible things, because that captures our attention. But there are also positive things happening! Are we aware of them? Are we attentive to what God is doing?
Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there. Isaiah 43:19
The idea of a road through the desert and streams in the wilderness sounds wonderful—but also quite impossible. Not for God! He wants us to look ahead and expect good things!
It seems to me that something new has been happening for about a year now: God is giving people more and more dreams, impressions, and visions; he is touching young people, who are being baptized by the hundreds and praying through the night by the thousands. This is not only happening on other continents, but also in Europe.
He is also at work in you and me! He is beginning to draw us closer and closer to himself with his love, filling us with a longing for more. He is courting us so that we may finally enter into this fulfilling relationship with him that makes us more secure, freer, and happier. The more I get to know Him, the more I realize how great, almighty, and good God is, but I also realize that I am loved and valued and that I have a purpose here on earth. When we understand this, we bring more and more light, brightness, joy, and hope into this world! This is our purpose; this is what we were created for.
I realize that I was not born by chance, that I don’t live in this place with this family and this environment by chance! No, God has a plan. I am free to follow this plan or not. But I can say with certainty that life only makes sense and becomes fulfilling when I follow this plan more and more. I was created for this and it fulfills me! I realize: Yes, exactly, it challenges me, but it is exactly what I want to do, what I am passionate about!
God works in mysterious ways, but we can feel and perceive that he is at work! Do you feel it too? Do you let him? Are you open to it? Amidst all the bad news of war, disease, and danger, God wants to work in our hearts.
God changes people through his love, but he also works behind the scenes in the flow of world events. Jesus defeated evil through his death and resurrection. He is not afraid. He is victorious. Do we believe that? Do we trust him, or do we focus on the bad news?
The world is getting darker, but Jesus will shine ever brighter through us who belong to him! That sounds too good to be true—and yet…!
I want to challenge you and me to be courageous and hopeful for the future.
We can look to the future with joy, even if something new comes along that we do not know yet. For God is the Creator and also the Savior of the world. No one can stop what he has begun. Neither in the world nor in us!
So I am really excited to see what else we will experience. He is doing something new, and the good news is that He will never leave us alone!
I’ve told you this so that my peace will be with you. In the world you’ll have trouble. But cheer up! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
