Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth: will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 NASB

God Always Makes a Way Through the Wilderness | Isaiah 43:19

Are you familiar with the terms wilderness and desert?

What comes to your mind when you hear these words?

Before Isaiah 43:19 became an important life verse for me, whenever I thought or heard the word wilderness, I thought of Africa with its dry desert and heat. That’s it. Nothing more, nothing less. My mind has a way of thinking in concrete which can be very annoying at times. I have asked God to please help me to think more abstract, even just a teeny tiny bit. lol

The first time a friend shared Isaiah 43:18-19 with me was on January 6, 2014.

Little did I know at the time just how much significance it would encompass (cover, circle, envelop) my life. My goal in 2014 was to surrender more to God. At the time, I had just returned to Him after putting Him on the back burner, so to speak, because I didn’t think he loved me the way He loved others.

I remember saying to God, “If you love so and so more than me, like everyone else does, then I don’t want You. I don’t need a God who has favorites.”

It was the beginning of a lot of soul searching, discovering God for who He truly is and experiencing His love like never before.

Did you know that God’s love can never be measured?

I don’t think I could ever fully describe it for the incredible worth that it truly is. It has to be personally experienced to know what I mean.

Twelve days later, while at work, I saw Isaiah 43:18-19 again! Can you believe it? God chose to reveal it to me again while I was working. Cleaning offices is a very solitude job, but God was reminding me that He was right there with me.

How precious and full of love is that?

But later that same day, I received a certified letter from my landlady telling me I had to be out of my place by March 31st. I’ll never forget that day. It felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. I was so devastated because I had ten years of memories in this place I truly considered to be home. Not just a roof over my head, but home.

But what did I see on the table next to my chair?

The frame with my verse in it …

Back up, two days prior to receiving the landlady’s letter, I was looking at that framed Scripture Verse and said, “God, please make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert for me.” (Simply meaning create miracles. Do what only You can do)

If my focus had only been on my circumstances at the time, I might have said, “Ok, God, this is not what I had in mind.” However, I knew He was in this with me! One time, while I was talking with Him, I told him if He ever wanted me to move out of here and into something new, He’d have to do it because I like roots and I’ll stay here forever.

Well…this began the roller coaster ride of circumstances, emotions and learning to trust God like never before …

Each time my heart shattered, mostly by other people’s words speaking against me or my situation, I cried out to God like never before. I lifted each and every issue by name up to Him and wept bitterly. This went on for three and a half years.

Towards the end of 2017, God told me it was time to move forward. It was time for me to no longer be stuck in my mind and in the hurts of my heart. It didn’t mean the hurts were just going to disappear, but I wouldn’t be stuck in them anymore.

He began revealing to me that He was El Roi, the God who sees me, and laid the word renewal on my heart. He then nudged me to be more genuine in my faith and to stay true to Him when under fire. I use to withdraw or separate myself from Him, as well as people, when circumstances were more than I could bear. It’s something I can literally feel and now that I am aware of it, I call on God each time I feel it coming on.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance tells us the Hebrew word and meaning for in the wilderness as used in Isaiah 43:19 is …

in the wilderness
בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun – masculine singular
Strong’s 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

The Hebrew word and meaning for in the desert as used in Isaiah 43:19 is …

in the desert
בִּֽישִׁמ֖וֹן (bî·ši·mō·wn)
Preposition-b | Noun – masculine singular
Strong’s 3452: Waste, wilderness

Dictionary.com describes the desert as a region that is very arid (extremely dry; parched). Because of little rainfall, the desert can only support sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all. Desolate means devastated, deserted, or lonely. Also, having the feeling of being abandoned by friends or by hope; forlorn

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary desolate includes joyless, disconsolate (cheerless, dejected, downcast), and sorrowful through or as if through separation from a loved one, showing the effects of abandonment and neglect; barren, lifeless; devoid of warmth, comfort or hope. (gloomy)

Do any of these definitions describe your life right now?

Does your heart feel like it’s dried up? Like a dried up mud puddle with little life or no life at all? Do you feel like it’s the end?

Are you thinking, “How in the world can life continue to go on like this? If it’s like this, who wants it? I surely don’t!“

Has your hope vanished and you don’t know how to find it again? Do you feel stuck and see no. way. out. and the hopelessness you feel is all too final?

Although we may feel some of the same emotions and share some experiences, the wilderness itself will look different for each one of us.

Truthfully, I wish there was no such thing as the wilderness, but there is and it will be a part of life until Jesus takes us home.

I understand that some might find this pure craziness?

And I completely understand! I really do. I haven’t always been where I am today in my faith walk with God. The most astonishing thing is is that Jesus is with us through the entire journey. I’m confident in knowing there is a promise land on the other side; I just have to keep going in order to get there.

A personal experience I can share is hiking. I LOVE hiking, but going down a hill kills my knees. If my focus was only on the pain instead of the reward at the end of the trail (and even along the way), I would never go hiking again. Period! And believe me, sometimes those thoughts are there. But the pain is so worth the gain. The beauty and satisfaction I get to experience on a hike is unlike anything else.

On a hike, the promise land at the destination is abounding waterfalls, exquisite, jewel-like lakes and listening to the crackling of creeks …

This beauty causes my heart to leap with adoration for my Creator. Along the way, in the midst of the pain, I get to see unusual rocks and mushrooms, beautifully carved leaves, and amazing flowers. Additionally, I get to meet lots of kind people.

Being in the wilderness doesn’t mean we are lost. It’s in the wilderness that we grow. We discover who we are and whether we truly desire God’s will above our own for our lives.

The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years. That’s a long time! Sometimes we have to let go of the things behind us, no longer pondering things of the past, in order to reach the promises, the something new, that God is doing for us.

The way to survive the wilderness first and foremost is for us to keep our eyes on God and to not go it alone. I am so thankful I have friends to help me through the wilderness (stress, anxiety, heartbreak, depression caused by hardship, affliction, misfortune, woe).

God uses my quiet time with Him and in His Word, Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies, Jesus calling by Sarah Young, and my friend Donna to get me through my heartaches and tears.

If you are currently in a wilderness season, please don’t go it alone!

Take a look at this beautiful Passage from Ecclesiastes …

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12 NIV (Read full chapter)

Did you see that?  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken … 

You, your trusted friend and GOD!

This three strand cord is NOT easily broken! Isn’t that very encouraging?

Additionally, ask God to give you a verse to memorize and return to every time you feel like it’s all becoming hopeless. Isaiah 43:19 is an excellent one. You also need friends or at least one trusted friend to encourage you throughout your wilderness experience. If you feel totally alone, let us pray for you here.

Please don’t leave here the same way you came!

God led you here to this Blog for a reason. He truly does love you.

Fast forward to January 1st 2021 …

God revealed to me that the desert was in my heart. But He told me it will no longer be a desert because He is pouring His Spirit and rivers of living water into my heart in a completely new way. I love that it will not be just one river. He said rivers (plural) because He will touch many lives through me.

Please know that I don’t write this in a boastful, prideful way at all. No, it’s in a very humble way. This is where God has brought me and I am forever grateful for His forgiveness! And restoring and renewing me, too. It definitely goes beyond restoring!!! He has very much renewed me. He has changed the way I view Him. My new knowledge and understanding of who He truly is has brought me to a place of complete acceptance of His genuine love for me.

I pray this for you, too, sweet sister …

God bless you …💗

God Always Makes a Way Through the Wilderness | Isaiah 43:19 @ freshgracefortoday.com

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