See, I Am Doing A New Thing

 Two things in life I can’t do without: 1) my glasses, and 2) my TV remote.  I must know  where both are at all times.  One day I couldn’t find the  remote. When I lose something,  the first thing I do is blame Marie. When  I retrieved my common sense that day I  commenced a frantic search. I enlisted Marie’s
help. We finally found it, (well, she did)  right in front of  my nose in plain sight on the couch.

A verse I read in Scripture this morning reminded me that Jesus is just like that. When we worry or scurry around trying to fix something or someone, we often forget that God is right there in our midst, waiting for us to ask Him for his help and guidance. “See,” he says in Isaiah 43:19, “I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland.”

That first word, “See”, gripped me. To me that’s as if Jesus is pleading with us, as if He were saying, “Don’t you see? I’m right there in front of you, in plain sight.”  And what He does is right there in front of us–if we are in His presence.

See, we have to be in his presence to see what He’s doing. If Marie is in the kitchen cleaning up and I’m in the den watching football I can’t see what she’s doing. I have to be in the kitchen in her presence to see what she’s doing.

And what does He say He’s doing? “I am doing a new thing.” God is always creating, He is always replacing our old things with His new things. Our sin with His forgiveness. Our guilt with His grace. Our shame with His acceptance. Our discouragement with His hope. Our pain with His peace. He is always making a way for us, guiding us, leading us, showing Himself to us — if we are in His presence.

Then He asks us, “Do you not perceive it?” His ways, His answers to our dilemmas, His hope, His mercy and grace are all right there in plain sight, like my TV remote — if we are in His presence.

And what is He creating? “I am making a way in the desert, and streams in the wasteland.” How many of us feel, maybe now, that we’re in the desert, tired, thirsty, worn out from the struggle, like we’ve been wandering for forty years like the Jews.

Jesus has a nice, level, clear path for us out of our desert experience. He has answers. He has hope and grace and peace for us.  Can’t you perceive it?  If you’re struggling to see it, get into His Word and on your knees.  He’ll show you a new thing and a way through your desert experience. Then he’ll provide streams in your wasteland. You’ll find refreshment there. You’ll find fulfillment. And you’ll find answers to your questions and resolutions to your problems that come directly from the heart and unconditional love of God.  His new thing especially for you.