“But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18-19 (NLT)
On a recent weekend visit, my oldest granddaughter decided it was time for a clean-out of my kitchen. She started with the fridge then moved on to the freezer. Then it was on to every cupboard in the kitchen. I’m reluctant to admit she found multiple things that needed to go. Some were multiples of things I already had. Some nobody really liked, including me! Some were past their use-by date. Needless to say, it was more than a one-garbage-can trip!
Sometimes we fill our lives up with garbage that is not only useless, but not very good for us. If you have a cell phone, look through it sometime. I think you’ll be surprised at how much garbage you have accumulated. And if we think about our past words or actions, or circumstances, I think we’ll all find at least a little garbage there.
The thing is, the Lord doesn’t look at the garbage of our past. He looks far beyond that to the promise of our future. Because He knows what He has planned for us.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
The whole situation with your family right now may look like a garbage dump. But sometimes there are treasures in that garbage. There may be things that the Lord is trying to teach you. Maybe there are lessons to be learned in that garbage. You may learn of the Lord’s powerful presence with you in spite of the situation. You may learn of his faithfulness, even in the mess. And despite the garbage, you will know of God’s peace.
Many times, we have no control of the garbage that gets dumped on us. But look for the beautiful and valuable among the garbage. Was there a time when God answered one of your prayers in an amazing or amusing way? Was there a time when you felt His presence so keenly? Was there a time you just knew He was speaking to you? These are the treasures He provides that lay among the garbage.
Let go of that garbage from the past so you can walk cleanly into God’s plan for your life.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
God bless,
