My prayer for you is that you would have a greater hunger for God’s Word. . . that you would taste and see that the Lord is good. Today we continue a series where I share from my own story about passages in Isaiah. This week we are taking a look at Isaiah 43.
Over 20 years ago Kristy and I were in a Leadership Development Course when we were in YWAM. The Lord spoke to me through the theme verse of Is. 43:18-19, “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
This year we are beginning to see the fulfillment of this word. God brought Kristy and me to Utah, and He has put us in a desert place. . .both physically and spiritually. And yet His promise is to bring rivers in the desert.
Over the last five years God enlarged this passage in our hearts by drawing our attention to the verses just before these. Isaiah 43:16-17 says, “Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea and a path through the mighty waters, Who brings forth the chariot and horse, the army and the powers. (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise. They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick.)” This passage is looking back to the time when the Israelites came out of Egypt and Pharaoh’s army is drowned in the Red Sea when Pharaoh decides to pursue them.
God told us very clearly in 2015 to adopt. When He did so I was terrified. I was turning 50 within the month and Kristy wanted an infant. The Lord highlighted three fears in my life that partnered together when I allowed them: fear of lack, fear of failure, and fear of rejection. In that season, God said they would pursue me but He would deal with them and I would never see fear the same way again. He would “drown” it.
As we walked through the journey of having a foster daughter from birth to age 2-1/2, and then not getting to adopt her, God addressed fear. I had so little control of so many decisions in that season. And control and fear are two spirits that partner together. Fear causes us to want to control things. When we are controlling it reveals that we are afraid of something.
When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt it wasn’t to leave them in the desert, it was to bring them to a place of rest. When we are afraid and controlling we can’t rest. While the Israelites were in the desert, God caused water to flow from the rock so the Israelites could drink. We know He will cause water to flow in the desert here too, both physically and spiritually.
Join us in praying for the people here in Utah. . .most who don’t know Jesus personally. And may you see rivers of living water flow from you and around you where you are as well!
