From Then To Now

From Then To Now

My Bible, My Help, My Hope

Isaiah 43:16–19(ESV)

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,

17 who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:

18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

In the passage we just read, God reaching out to His people with a powerful message.

God speaks to the Israelites, reminding them of a truth that echoes to us even now: You are meant for more than the life you’re living, more than the struggles you’re facing.

Imagine this—God had delivered the Israelites to the promised land, blessing them with a purpose to be a light, shining His love to the world.

But over time, they lost sight of this calling, turning away from God.

And in that turning, they found themselves conquered, their temple in ruins, and taken into exile, far from home.

For 70 years, they lived as captives in Babylon, wondering if their hope had faded.

Yet even then, God hadn’t given up on them.

Right there, in the midst of their exile, God speaks to them through Isaiah: “You are made for so much more.”

I want you to take a moment and underline this phrase in Isaiah 43: *“I am doing a new thing.”*

Listen we are all made for so much more that what we are experiencing now.

To receive the more, we must move from what was to what is.

In other word, we can’t let what happened then keep us from what God wants to do now.

So we need to move “ From Then To Now.”

In the scripture we just read from the book of Isaiah, God too time to invite the Israelites to look forward, beyond their struggles.

They had been exiled, far from home for nearly 70 years.

They’d been so removed from the land and purpose they were created for that many of them forgot who they truly were.

You see, life in Babylon wasn’t the promised land.

It wasn’t where God ultimately wanted them.

It was a land of “okay,” not the place of purpose and promise He had given them.

I imagine they were tempted to settle into this “okay” life—to accept less than what they were truly called to be.

In fact, there was a whole generation born in exile who had never even seen the promised land.

The stories of Jerusalem—the temple’s beauty, the awe of standing before God’s house—were just memories told by the older generation.

Every now and then, I picture an elderly Hebrew describing the steps of the temple, the beauty of Jerusalem, with a faraway look in his eyes.

And that longing would stir in the hearts of those listening, reminding them that they were created for more.

And maybe you feel a bit like that today.

Maybe you feel far from the life you imagined or the purpose you thought was yours.

Maybe you’ve settled into a land of “okay,” where things are manageable but you know deep down that you were meant for more.

If so, I want you to hear God’s promise to the Israelites as if He’s speaking it directly to you: *You’re not too far.

You’re not too far from the place I have for you.

It’s not too late.*

As long as you’re breathing, God is doing something new.

Just as He promised the Israelites, He promises us: even in our wilderness, even in our wasteland, He’s making a way.

Don’t settle for a life of “okay” when God is calling you to a life of purpose.

Even if you’ve been in this season for a while, remember, He’s ready to lead you forward—out of exile and into promise.

He’s already at work, and He’s inviting you to join Him in this new thing.

The Israelites did what they needed to survive in Babylon, but after a while, they forgot the temple, forgot the land they were made for.

They became comfortable in exile, slowly letting go of their dreams of the promised land.

But God had bigger plans—plans to bring them back to that land, to rebuild the temple, to restore them to the life and purpose they were created for.

And I believe, with all my heart, that God wants to do that in your life, too.

He wants to lift you out of the “land of okay” and bring you into something new.

Imagine the Israelites—heads down, just trying to make it through the day, surviving rather than truly living.

They’d been in this “okay” place so long that they stopped expecting anything more.

But God woke them up, reminding them, *“Look up.

I’m doing something new.”*

He wanted them to be ready for it, to lift their eyes in expectation.

And today, God is saying the same to you. *“Look up.”*

He’s not just asking for your attention; He’s preparing you for what He’s about to do.

He’s calling you out of a place of just getting by, into a life that’s full of His purpose and blessing.

God doesn’t want you to stay in the land of “okay.”

So sometimes, He shakes us up, stirs us out of complacency, not to discourage us, but to draw us closer to the life He’s prepared for us.

He wants to fill your heart with encouragement, with the promises He’s speaking over you even now.

To step into this new thing God has, there are three things we can do to be ready and in tune with His work in us.

When we embrace His promises, we open ourselves to the transformation, fulfillment, and joy He longs to pour into our lives.

Get ready, because He’s getting ready to do something new.

1. REMEMBER GOD'S POWER.

Let that truth sink in for a moment.

This passage in Isaiah has always been one of my favorites: *“Forget the former things.

Do not dwell on the past.

I’m doing something new.”* Isn’t that beautiful?

God is saying, *“Lift your eyes from the past.

Stop focusing on where you’ve been—I’m about to do something amazing in your life!”*

This promise is so personal to me because it reminds me that God says, *“Forget the mistakes, forget the failures, let go of the guilt.

I still have a plan for you.”

* But what struck me recently is that before God asks us to let go of the past, He first reminds us of something powerful: He reminds us of His own strength, His miracles.

Just before He says, *“Forget the past,”* He says, *“Remember my power.”*

In Isaiah, God says, *“I am the One who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters.”*

He was reminding the Israelites of one of His greatest miracles—the parting of the Red Sea.

God wanted them to remember that He’d already rescued them from what seemed impossible once before.

Before they could step forward, they needed to remember just who He is.

And maybe, before God leads you into what’s next, He’s inviting you to remember, too.

Remember how He’s shown up in your life.

Remember the strength that carried you through when you didn’t know if you’d make it.

Before you step forward, God wants you to know that His power hasn’t changed—it’s the same today as it was back then.

So before letting go of the past, remember who God is.

He is the God who builds roads through oceans, the God of the impossible.

When the Israelites left Egypt and found themselves standing at the edge of the Red Sea, it must have looked like the end.

And then God did something miraculous—He made a way.

Right now, He wants to do that in your life, too.

But first, He’s saying, *“Look back, remember what I’ve already done, and trust that I can do it again.”

* God’s power is with you, ready to guide you into the new thing He’s preparing just for you.

So today, let’s hold on to that truth and trust in His power to take us forward.

Picture this: the Israelites are trapped.

The vast Red Sea stretches out before them, and behind them, the Egyptian army thunders closer, relentless.

They’re at the end of the road, facing what feels like an impossible barrier.

There’s no way forward that they can see, and the threat behind them only looms larger.

But then, something miraculous happens.

God, who specializes in doing what seems impossible, steps in.

He parts the sea, clearing a path through the very thing that seemed to trap them.

In their darkest, most desperate moment, He makes a way where there was no way.

Maybe you find yourself at a similar “Red Sea” moment today.

You’re facing challenges that feel insurmountable, waves crashing in from every direction, and no way forward in sight.

Perhaps you’ve done everything you can, and yet, it’s not enough.

It’s humanly impossible to fix.

It’s okay to acknowledge that. Sometimes, there are mountains we simply can’t move on our own.

But here’s the truth: God is still the God of the impossible.

Just because it seems impossible for us doesn’t mean it’s impossible for Him.

Over and over, I’ve seen God move mountains and create paths through what seemed like hopeless situations, both in my own life and in the lives of so many others.

He makes a way, and when He does, it’s undeniable.

He gets the glory.

If everyone around you is saying, “It can’t be done,” don’t give up.

Take it to God first.

Sometimes, He even leads us to these dead ends so He can show us His power firsthand, to do something remarkable we never expected.

In the story of the Israelites, God actually told them to turn back and camp near the sea—a literal dead end.

They didn’t know why, but God did.

It looked like they were stuck but, if you’re willing to take that first step in faith, He can open up the path, even when you can’t see it.

So hold on, trust Him, and remember—God is the God of the impossible.

Sometimes, God leads us right into a dead end, not to abandon us, but so He can rescue us in ways that will blow us away.

When we reach that point where we just don’t see a way forward, that's often where He’s ready to step in, take the credit, and do what only He can do.

It's in these moments that we begin to realize just how powerful and faithful He really is.

We come to know, deep in our hearts, that He truly cares for us, and that He’s the God who makes a way where there is none.

Maybe you're at one of those dead ends right now, and it doesn’t make sense.

And maybe, if everything had been “just okay,” you’d have kept going, day in and day out, comfortable with “okay.”

But God loves you too much to let you settle for “okay” when

He has something extraordinary in mind.

Sometimes He lets the ground shift beneath us to nudge us out of the land of “okay” and into the life we were truly made for.

If you’re feeling the bottom drop out right now, remember: you’re in the perfect place for a miracle.

Dead ends are God’s starting points.

He uses these moments to help us let go of what’s holding us back, so we can step fully into what He’s calling us to.

And here’s the best part: what seems impossible for us is effortless for God.

The challenges that feel overwhelming to us are like candles snuffed out in His hands.

He can clear a path, split the seas, and blow away every obstacle we face.

The Egyptians had held the Israelites captive for hundreds of years, yet for God, their power was nothing.

So today, lift your eyes to Him.

Fix your gaze on the One who is greater than any challenge, stronger than any storm, and kinder than we could ever imagine.

He is leading you, and He’s ready to do the impossible in your life if you’re willing to trust Him.

Don’t settle for “okay” when God has something amazing planned.

Remember—God’s greatest miracles often come when we’re standing at a dead end, right on the edge of something incredible.

I love how God led the Israelites to a dead end not just to save them, but to draw out and defeat their biggest enemy.

The Egyptians had oppressed them for over 400 years, and God said, “No more.

Today, this ends.”

He made a promise: “The enemy you see today, you’ll never see again.”

The Israelites would face other challenges in the wilderness and the promised land, but this one, this oppressive enemy, would be gone forever.

Sometimes, God brings us to our own dead ends to confront the very things that have kept us stuck or held us back for years—habits, fears, patterns of thinking, or financial struggles.

These are things we may have learned to live with, even though they keep us from the freedom and purpose we’re meant for.

When we reach that dead end, He brings those struggles front and center, so we can’t ignore them any longer.

He doesn’t do it to hurt us but to help us see them for what they are so that, with His help, they can finally be defeated.

Maybe for you, it’s been a cycle of financial stress or a habit you can’t seem to break.

Perhaps you’ve been here time and time again, wondering why you’re still struggling.

God might be allowing this dead end so you can face these challenges head-on, applying His wisdom and guidance—whether it’s in finances, relationships, or health—and finally breaking free.

It’s a hard process, but years from now, you’ll look back and see that this dead end was the turning point that led you to a whole new freedom.

And once God has helped you deal with that problem, don’t let it live on by holding on to the past.

To embrace what is new or what’s next you must deal with the past so you don’t dwell on the past.

2. DEAL WITH THE PAST SO YOU DON'T DWELL ON THE PAST.

Scripture says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”

Sometimes it’s hard to forget.

I wonder if it is so hard to forget because we haven’t personally dealt with it.

It keeps showing up in our present—in our emotions, relationships, or daily struggles.

To move forward, we have to confront and grieve what’s hurt us or held us down.

Brokenness is often the pathway to healing, but we have to be willing to feel the pain of it before we can step into something new.

The Israelites had to mourn their losses; they wept by the rivers of Babylon, grieving all that had been lost in their exile.

They didn’t rush forward without first feeling the weight of their past.

If you’re carrying pain or loss, take time to grieve.

Don’t just push forward without processing it.

When we don’t grieve, that pain has a way of coming out sideways in unexpected and sometimes destructive ways.

But when we give ourselves space to feel, grieve, and release it to God, He can take even our deepest hurts and lead us into something beautiful, something we might never have imagined.

God is with you at this dead end, not only to help you face your challenges but to defeat them and bring you to a place of lasting freedom.

Trust Him, let go of what’s behind, and step forward into the new life He’s calling you to.

Then there's a third thing that is so important and that is open your eyes to see what God is doing.

3. OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE NEW THING GOD IS DOING.

In verse 19 the first part of the verse, God says, ''See I'm doing a new thing.''

He's saying stop walking around with your head down, stop looking down.

You need to look up right now.

Wake up, look up, look up and see the new thing that I'm doing in your life.

I want you to look up because you can't be just thinking about how to survive.

You've got to look up and you'll see the new thing I'm doing.

My prayer for you today is that you will have spiritual eyes open so you can see what God's doing even in the middle of the storm you can see what God's up to.

Even in the desert you can see that God's making a way.

Even in the ocean you can see God's building a road.

You can see the new thing that God is doing.

I want you to turn to your neighbor on both sides and say, ''Look up, look up, look up, look up.

You need to look up.

Stop looking down.

Stop looking at what's going on right around you and look up to God first and then he'll give you a new perspective on what's going on around you.''

Then I want you to see that next part of the verse.

Now it springs up.

Do you not perceive it?

We looked for it in yesterday, we look for it in tomorrow but it's happening today.

Now.

Now it springs forth.

Then I love how he says, ''Do you not perceive it?''

God wants to help you perceive it, believe it and then receive it.

Perceive it, you got to see it with spiritual eyes because you can't see it with your physical eyes.

You may be right there at the Red Sea at a dead end and the Egyptian army coming after you.

Looks like an impossible situation butGod says, ''Just open your eyes.

I'm building a road and it's almost to you.

Then you're going to see it all open up.''

You have to perceive it then you have to believe it and then you receive it and you step out in faith, out of the land of okay into the land that you were made for, the land of more and God has more for you.

What does he want to do?

It says it in the very last verse.

Look at it with me.

I am making away in the wilderness and springs in the wasteland.

God's making a way in the wilderness.

Maybe some of you are in the wilderness in your career right now.

Man, it just feels like a dead end.

God is making right now a way for you.

You just don't see it yet.

Ask him to help you perceive it, believe it and walk in it in faith.

For some, you have a desert in your marriage right now where it feels like all the love is just dried up and God wants to open up some springs of living water to renew and refresh your marriage.

Perceive it, believe it, receive it. For some of you, you're in a desert of depression.

You've been going through depression and it's not your fault it's just that God is using it to make you into what you're made for and God wants you to see that he's going to open up the floodgates in that desert of depression, floodgates of joy.

Not happiness which depends on things happening around you, but real joy that comes from God that cannot be explained.God wants to do something amazing in your life.

He doesn't want you to settle for okay and he loves you too much to let you stay there but I have to take a step of faith, whatever that is.

A step of faith.

I don't know what the wilderness is for you, I don't know what the desert is for you but we all in areas of our lives in a wilderness or a desert and the good news is God wants to make away through the wilderness and he wants to give you springs of hope and living water in the middle of the desert.

Let's pray!