New Things Springing Forth

Isaiah 43:18-19 Devotional for Fresh Beginnings

“New things springing forth”—this vibrant promise from Isaiah 43 shatters the chains of past disappointments and present limitations. To exiles who couldn’t imagine restoration, God declared He was already initiating something unprecedented:

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, NIV)

These verses reveal God’s nature as the ultimate Innovator, inviting us to shift our focus from what was to what He is about to do.

1. The Call to Release the Past

God’s command contains two actions:

“Forget” (shākah) – Not erasure, but refusing to let memory control you
“Do not dwell” (hitbonēn) – Stop rehearsing old narratives

This is especially vital when:
✔️ Past successes hinder present faith
✔️ Past failures poison current hope
✔️ Familiar patterns blind us to new possibilities

2. The Divine Creativity

God’s present-tense declaration “I am doing” reveals:

Immediate activity – His work begins before we see evidence
Unconventional methods – Wilderness ways and wasteland streams
Perception challenge – “Do you not perceive it?” asks for spiritual sight

Biblical examples:

Red Sea road (Exodus 14)
Valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37)
Resurrection morning (John 20)

3. The Nature of God’s New Things

Characteristics of divine newness:

Timely – Springs up at the right moment (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Life-giving – Transforms barren places
Surprising – Often defies human expectations

Preparing for Newness

1. Cultivate Spiritual Perception

Ask daily: “Lord, help me perceive what You’re doing”
Keep a “new things” journal of subtle breakthroughs

2. Clear Space for Newness

Release emotional attachments to “how God worked before”
Simplify areas overcrowded with old habits/clutter

3. Practice Wilderness Faith

Thank God in advance for unseen streams
Share stories of past provision to strengthen present trust

4. Partner with the Spirit

Pray: “Do Your new work in me before doing it through me”
Embrace discomfort as a sign of divine rearrangement

When Newness Feels Impossible

For those stuck in cycles:

The same God who brought Israel out of Egypt can free you from emotional/spiritual bondage
Your wilderness has a hidden water source (Exodus 17:6)
Spring always follows winter (Song of Solomon 2:11-12)

Reflection Questions – New Things Springing Forth

What “former things” do I need to release to embrace God’s new work?
Where have I missed perceiving God’s springing-forth activity recently?
What practical step can I take to prepare for God’s new thing?

Prayer

Father, thank You for always doing a new thing, even when I can’t see it. Help me release the past—both the pain and the comfort of old patterns—and tune my heart to perceive Your fresh work in my life. Give me faith to trust You’re making a way, even in my wilderness. In Jesus’ name, amen.