Lent Update ... "I am doing a new thing!"
April 09, 2025
Hello, dear friends. Ian from autumnal Sydney here. Autumn is my favourite season and even though we’re almost halfway through it, we’re only beginning to feel those early morning chills that remind us that summer is past, and a new season is upon us.
How has Lent been for you all?
It’s a healthy practice to review one’s progress. Even if you haven’t chosen to specifically acknowledge the season or fast, asking yourself the question whether you feel you are drawing closer to God is always a healthy option. Life with God is a long journey, with ups and downs and everything in between. Like any relationship, our one with our Creator follows a similar trajectory as the journey. At times we feel especially close, at other times, perhaps distant and sometimes a little ambivalent.
What we can always be certain of is that God never leaves us, even if He is quiet. His Word tells us this: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Stepping out of the Wilderness
Even though wilderness seasons can be long; we only must look at the 40 years the Israelites experienced before stepping into the promised land; they will come to an end.
Last week’s lectionary readings for the Fourth week of Lent spent some time in the book of Isaiah where the prophet shared some good news for those of us who are wandering in the wilderness. Read along with me these encouraging words in Isaiah 43:
“I am the Lord, your Holy One,
the Creator of Israel, your King.”
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.
20 The wild beasts will honour me,
the jackals and the ostriches,
for I give water in the wilderness,
rivers in the desert,
to give drink to my chosen people,
21 the people whom I formed for myself
that they might declare my praise.” (v 15-21 ESVUK)
As one commentator said, “When God made a way out of Egypt for the Israelites, he didn’t allow their enemies to follow. Yet if Israel dwelt too much on her past, the painful memories of slavery in Egypt could continue to harm her.
God got his people out of Egypt, now he wants to get Egypt out of them!” (Hannah Heather, 24x7 Lectio 3 April 2025)
As you read these verses (perhaps do it a few times if you’re able) do you get any sense the Lord might be nudging you towards the ‘[new] way he is making in the wilderness’ for you? Isaiah even asks the question, ‘do you perceive it?’ Did you notice that?
Do you perceive something?
May I encourage you to spend some time over these next day’s talking to God about what ‘new thing’ he might be doing for you? Maybe the ‘new thing’ won’t miraculously appear at Easter or even soon after, but I’d encourage you to keep pressing into see what the Lord is sharing with you about what he might be inviting you into.
Would you mind if I pray for us all?
Loving Lord, Holy God, we love you, we worship you. We thank you that you are always at work in and through our lives. You are always inviting us into something new. Please give us ears to hear and hearts to perceive what it may be that you’re inviting each of us into. Lord, we want to know. We want to follow you out of our wilderness and into the promised land that you have for each of us.
Thank you, Lord. We love you, we praise your holy name, Jesus.
Amen.
Happy Easter, my friends Be safe, don’t eat too much chocolate and dig deep through the wonders and challenges of Holy Week, Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.
Grace and peace