“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.” — Isaiah 43:19
Let’s be real for a second: sometimes, life feels like one long, dry, dusty walk through the wilderness. You’re wandering, you’re tired, and you’re pretty sure you’ve passed that same cactus three times already. You’re thirsty for something new, something refreshing, but all you see is more sand.
And then God shows up with this promise in Isaiah: “I’m doing a new thing.”
At first, it’s like, “Cool, God. But where? All I see is desert.” And that’s the thing about God—He doesn’t always work on our timeline. While we’re busy staring at the dry ground, He’s already planting seeds. While we’re panicking about how we’ll make it through, He’s already carving rivers in the desert.
The problem? We’re so focused on the wilderness that we miss the water.
God’s new thing doesn’t always look like we expect. Sometimes, it’s subtle—a small sprout breaking through the dry ground. Sometimes, it’s slow—like the river that starts as a trickle before it becomes a rushing current. And sometimes, it’s just plain unexpected. (I mean, who looks for water in the desert?)
But here’s the good news: God doesn’t need perfect conditions to work. He doesn’t need fertile soil or storm clouds. He’s in the business of bringing life to dead places, hope to hopeless situations, and purpose to seasons that feel like they’re going nowhere.
So if you’re in a wilderness season, take heart. Look around. God is doing a new thing—even if it’s just a tiny sprout right now. Trust Him to make a way where there seems to be none, and believe that He’s already working behind the scenes.
Because even when all you see is desert, God sees rivers.