Behold, my God will make a way!

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. BEHOLD [emphasis mine], I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I WILL MAKE A WAY [emphasis mine] in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:18-19

Behold, my God will make a way.

And He has.

How many of you who call the One True God, Your God, cannot say that God MADE A WAY for you in your wilderness, in your times of trial.
The wilderness; that place of bewilderment; that place where everything seems to be smothering you, overwhelming you with it's thick canopy and you are left feeling confused, lost, and uncertain.
The desert; that place of desperation; that place where everything you thought you knew and possessed seems to be stripped away from you and you are left feeling desolate, empty, alone, and thirsty for life giving hope.

When you look back, did God not make a way?

It's been said many times before, but I will reiterate what I have heard from many pulpits and from many mouths, that the Psalmist says "EVEN THOUGH I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil".
EVEN THOUGH, not IF. It's a WHEN IT WILL happen, not if it maybe happens. Therefore, if our loving God does not promise us that we will have clear, smooth sailing when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, then what do we do with those valleys, wildernesses and deserts?
Let me put the emphasis then on another word: "Even though I walk THROUGH the valley..."
Did you get that? Have you heard it before and maybe glossed over it with the all too familiar voice in my head that has said "Yeah, whatever, Pastor. You don't know just how horrible a valley I'm in at the moment. You don't know how bad I have it right now."

The Psalmist recalls, not just that he was allowed to go through the difficult time, but that he knows that he can acknowledge that HE CAME THROUGH IT, that he didn't stay in that place. He continues with the great proclamation "FOR YOU ARE WITH ME".

His God not only made a way, but God was WITH HIM through it.

When you look back, can you not see how God was with you, how He made a way through?
Maybe it was a person; those timely earthly angels that God places in our lives to be a great source of comfort, encouragement and prayer support when you're struggling. Maybe it was a book; something that brought you a revelation that gave you strength to keep walking. Maybe it was occupation; something that engaged your time and gave you fuel to keep powering on for someone else's or something else's sake.
God is OMNIPRESENT. That means that He is EVERYWHERE. He's not just in one tangible place and therefore, you don't need to wait for Him to show up. He is already here. He is in that best friend that sent you bible verses to encourage you. He is in that book that spoke to you about God's enduring faithfulness and set your eyes back upon Him. He is that child that you were able to serve with your best self and know that you were still having a positive impact in the world, and that there are good things worth fighting for.
He was with you, even if you didn't notice the fiery pillar lighting the path ahead in the dark night. He was with you, even if you didn't hear his voice booming above you. He was with you, even if you didn't see the angels standing in your prison of despair to shake the chains from your ankles.
Even though we so often wish that He would, God doesn't always work in blindingly obvious ways.
But He still asks us to PERCEIVE IT.

Perhaps you do not yet have the beautiful God-given gift of hindsight. Perhaps you have not yet noticed how His hand has been upon you to guide you through.
Have you still been remembering the former things? Have you still been considering the things of old?
Turn around. Look forward to where you are going, and turn from looking behind you. See that God is doing a NEW THING. See that He has made a way ahead of you, to come out of the wilderness, to walk clear of the desert to lie down in green pastures and sit beside still waters. Let Him restore your soul.

"SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY WILL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE"! (Psalm 23:6)