A way in the wilderness
Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
The wilderness is often a symbol of hardship, trials, and desolation. It’s a place where resources are scarce, and direction can seem unclear. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years before entering the Promised Land. Jesus was led into the wilderness for 40 days to be tested by the devil. The wilderness can feel lonely, isolating, and challenging, much like the seasons we go through in our own lives.
Maybe today, you find yourself in a wilderness, a season of confusion, loss, fear, or uncertainty. It could be financial struggles, health crises, relational conflicts, or spiritual dryness. You might feel disoriented, wondering where God is in the midst of it all. But hear the word of the Lord: God is doing a new thing! He is making a way in the wilderness!
When God declares He is doing a new thing, this means a divine intervention that breaks into our reality. God is not bound by the barrenness of the wilderness, nor by the limitations of our circumstances.
Sometimes, in the middle of our wilderness, we become so consumed by our struggle that we miss the new thing that God is birthing. This “new thing” may not look like what we expect. It may be a new mindset, a new opportunity, a new direction, or even a deeper level of faith. But whatever it is, it is God’s assurance that He is still active and present in your life, bringing hope even in the most hopeless situations.
When God says, “I am making a way in the wilderness,” He is promising direction and provision. In ancient times, the wilderness was a place of chaos and danger. Yet God speaks with assurance that He will create pathways where none seem to exist.
For the Israelites, this meant just deliverance from their Babylonian captivity and a return to their homeland. For us, it may mean deliverance from situations that hold us captive, whether it's fear, anxiety, or past failures. The God who parted the Red Sea and led His people through the wilderness is the same God who can make a way in your life today.
This promise also includes "rivers in the desert.” Water represents life, restoration, and refreshment. In the dry and barren places of our lives, God provides rivers of His grace and mercy. These rivers may come through unexpected blessings, through relationships that uplift us, or through the peace that surpasses all understanding. The wilderness does not have the final say. God does. And He provides what we need to sustain us.
Our response to God's promise should be...
First, to be rooted in faith. We must trust that even when we can’t see the way, God is still working. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that “faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Trust that God is already at work, preparing a way for you in the wilderness.
And secondly, it calls for obedience. Sometimes the path God creates requires us to take steps of faith, even when the way forward seems unclear. When the Israelites were about to cross the Jordan River, they had to step into the water before it parted. Likewise, God may be asking us to take a step of faith, even in the midst of our wilderness, trusting that He will provide the way forward.
In conclusion, the wilderness may be difficult, but it is not permanent. God is making a way. He is doing a new thing, even now. The streams of His grace are flowing, and the path He has ordained for you is being revealed. Hold fast to His promise, step forward in faith, and trust that the One who makes a way in the wilderness will lead you to places of peace, purpose, and fulfillment.
God bless you.
Prayer key:
1. Lord, thank you for the blessing of your word today in Jesus Christ name.
2. Lord, help me my faith in the midst of the wilderness I am in Jesus Christ name.
3. Lord, grant me the grace to obey your instruction at all time in Jesus Christ name.
4. Thank you Lord for answered prayers in Jesus Christ name. Amen.