Read Isaiah 43:18-21
The Lord says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”—Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)
I identify with the baby bird that lingers in its nest outside my door. Its three siblings flew away yesterday, and it is alone. Its parents flutter by in the mornings and evenings, sometimes providing food, but mostly urging the little one to spread its wings and fly. But the baby bird is hesitant. Over and over it hops to the edge of the nest, looks around and down and then retreats to the only place it has known.
I identify with that baby bird because I have been afraid to move on too many times. Whether it is beginning school for the first time, changing schools, leaving home, getting married, beginning a new job, moving to a new place, or retiring, life is filled with uncertainty. It is easy to hop to the edge of my comfortable nest, look around and want to retreat to the security of what I know.
But just as God promised the people in today’s scripture reading, God will always be doing new things, always providing a way, always giving us fresh reasons to move out to do God’s bidding and to proclaim God’s love. Because God is our shelter, we can step to the edge of our nests, open our wings, and fly with confidence in a faithful God.
Prayer: O God, give me courage today to move out of my place of comfort and move on to the opportunities and relationships you have prepared for me. Amen.
Thought for the day: I can move on to new things because God moves with me.
Jerry White, Florida
