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Letting Go of the Past & Embracing the New

Praise the Lord! This week, I want to meditate on a verse from Isaiah 43:18-19, a passage that has deeply impacted my life. It reads:

“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.� (NIV)

You may be familiar with this verse which establishes key concepts to our lives. "The past" can refer to both cherished memories and painful ones, and we often find ourselves trapped by past mistakes, regrets, or failures. It is human nature to dwell on past hurts, and when we do so, our past wounds can shape our identity and limit our growth. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to glorify God, and our past actions no longer define us. Through Jesus, we are renewed in spirit. As 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here.�

Gods word in Isaiah 43:18-19 speaks to us much like it spoke to the Israelites during their time of captivity and loss. In this verse, God is offering hope and renewal, calling His people to not dwell on their past struggles but to look forward to what He is about to do.

There are three main points we are going to meditate on:

1. Releasing the Past
2. Recognizing Gods New Work in Us
3. Embracing a Life of Faith

Releasing the Past

Gods command to "forget the former things" in Isaiah 43:18 isnt about erasing memories, but about not allowing the past to hold us back. Dwelling on past mistakes, regrets, and failures prevents us from fully experiencing the present and trusting God for the future. The Israelites were reminded that their past struggles didnt define them, and the same is true for us. Holding on to guilt and disappointments blinds us to the new life God offers. Our mistakes may make us feel unworthy, but Gods promise is clear: He makes all things new, and we are called to shift our focus from the past to the future He has prepared for us.

Recognizing Gods New Work

God invites us to recognize that He is doing a new thing, even in our brokenness and despair. He calls us to look beyond our circumstances and perceive His divine work. Through Jesus death and resurrection, God offers us new life, transforming us from sinners into saints, from brokenness into healing, and from the lost into the found. This is Gods new work in us: making us new creations.

Embracing a Life of Faith

God promises to make a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, assuring us that even in desolate and difficult times, He is at work. The wilderness, representing desolation and loneliness, was a place of both testing and provision for the Israelites, where God provided manna, water, and guidance. Similarly, God promises to make a way for us, even when it seems impossible. We are called to trust that Gods ways are higher than ours, and to embrace a life of faith by believing He is working in our lives, even when we cant see it.

The Power of Now

Releasing the past frees us to move forward, recognizing Gods new work empowers us to embrace the future, and living by faith opens us to His miraculous provision. Through Jesus sacrifice, we are forgiven and given the chance to live in the present, no longer bound by past mistakes. Dwelling on the past only holds us back from the future God has prepared for us.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us of Gods hopeful plans for us: “For I know the plans I have for you,� declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.� Youre past decisions, struggles, and regrets are lessons, not definitions of who you are.

Saul, a fierce persecutor of Christians, was transformed after encountering Jesus on the road to Damascus. He became the Apostle Paul, one of the most influential figures in spreading the gospel and building the early church. Despite his past, Paul embraced Gods grace and stepped into his new identity in Christ. 

To sum up, lets remember this acronym for the word PAST:

• P – Perceive: Open your eyes to recognize the new things God is doing.
• A – Abandon: Let go of former things and past burdens.
• S – See: Acknowledge the ways God is making paths in difficult times.
• T – Trust: Have faith in Gods ability to bring renewal and transformation.

In this New Year, let us let go of the past, recognise Gods word and embrace a life of faith that God has prepared for us. God isnt finished with us yet! Let us open our eyes to the new roads He is creating for us and step forward in faith.

Written by: p. abi