God Is Doing A New Thing
Isaiah 43:18–19
Scripture: Isaiah 43:18–19 (NIV)
“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.”
Introduction:
Has life ever led you to a place where you feel stuck? Where the path forward is hidden, the pressure is overwhelming, and there seems to be no way out?
Maybe you’re facing financial pressure, a broken relationship, a health crisis, or a spiritual drought. Maybe, like Israel in Isaiah 43, you feel exiled in a “wilderness” — far from where you thought you’d be.
But I came to remind you of one simple truth:
When there is no way — God makes a way.
1. Don’t Dwell on the Past
“Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past.” (v.18)
God isn’t saying ignore the past — He’s saying don’t get stuck there. The enemy wants to use your past failures, mistakes, even your past blessings, to keep you from seeing what God is doing now.
Maybe you’ve failed financially. Maybe you’ve made decisions you regret. God is not finished with your story. Grace rewrites broken chapters.
Illustration: Imagine driving forward while staring only in your rearview mirror — you’re guaranteed to crash. You look back to learn, but you move forward to live.
2. God Is Doing a New Thing
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?” (v.19)
Sometimes God’s new work begins below the surface. You might not see it yet — but faith says it’s already growing.
Even in silence, God is at work. Even in waiting, seeds are being planted. The job offer may not have come. The debt may still sit there. But God is forming a “new thing” — not just around you, but in you.
Don’t let discouragement keep you from seeing what God is preparing.
3. God Makes a Way Where There Was None
“I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Here is the heart of this message: God specializes in impossibility.
- He made a road through the Red Sea.
- He fed Israel with manna from heaven.
- He opened prison doors for Paul and Silas.
- He rolled the stone away for Jesus.
So if He made a way then, He can make a way now — for you.
God is not limited by banks, bosses, or brokenness. He can send help through unexpected people, miraculous provision, or the quiet strength to endure and overcome.
Application: What Should We Do?
- Pray with faith – Don’t wait to understand. Trust before you see.
- Walk in obedience – Sometimes the “way” opens as we move.
- Wait with hope – Even in delay, God is never late.
Closing Illustration:
There’s a story about a man trapped in a flood. He prayed, “God, save me.” A boat came — he said no, he was waiting for God. A helicopter came — again, he said no. When he drowned and got to heaven, he asked, “Lord, why didn’t You save me?” God said, “I sent a boat and a helicopter.”
God’s way may not always look like what you expect — but He always shows up.
Conclusion:
You may not see the way, but God is already making it.
Let go of yesterday’s fear, open your heart to today’s miracle, and trust that God is doing a new thing — even now.
“I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
Closing Prayer:
Lord, Thank You that You are the Waymaker. For every person stuck in fear, weighed down by debt, shame, or struggle — breathe new hope into their hearts today. Help us to see what You’re doing and to believe You are still writing our story. Make a way, O God, and give us strength to walk in it. In Jesus’ name, Amen.