It’s been said that no one likes change except babies in wet diapers. I’m not even sure that’s true—babies often cry quite a bit during the diaper-changing experience! But what is true is that some changes are welcome. A new job, a new car, or a new friendship can bring joy, excitement, and opportunity. These are the kinds of changes we tend to pursue, the ones that align with our hopes for a better future.
Yet, there are also changes that we never choose—those that bring hardship, sorrow, or loss. An unexpected illness, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a loved one can turn our world upside down. These changes are often sudden, unwelcome, and beyond our control.
Some changes shake us to our core. I write this in the middle of September, and like many, I’m reminded of the tragedy that struck our nation on September 11, 2001. In an instant, the lives of thousands were changed forever, and as a country, we were thrust into a new reality. Families lost loved ones, and our understanding of security, peace, and community was irreversibly altered. It was a day that brought an avalanche of grief and change, forcing us to adapt to a new world filled with uncertainty.
But change is not always defined by trauma or disaster. It comes in many forms—sometimes welcome, sometimes not. Sometimes it brings joy, and other times, it brings deep sorrow. Often, change is hard, even when it’s for the better. For example, the decision to improve your health by changing your diet. You might love your daily dose of donuts, but eating four dozen every day isn’t exactly a recipe for longevity! The choice to embrace a healthier lifestyle, though difficult, is a positive, life-giving change.
Then there are the changes that are so monumental, so all-encompassing, that we struggle to recognize them as they unfold. These changes often happen gradually, and we only understand their full impact in hindsight. This is the kind of transformation God speaks about through the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 43:18-19 offers a message of hope to the Israelites in a time of exile and despair. The people had endured immense suffering, and their future seemed bleak. Yet, God reassures them saying, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”
Forgetting the past is no easy task, especially when it’s filled with pain or regret. Dwelling on what’s familiar feels safe, even when we know it’s time to move on. But God is constantly in the business of renewal, inviting us to look forward, not backward. The changes He brings often come in unexpected ways—just as Isaiah proclaims, “I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”
A path through the wilderness? Streams in the wasteland? These are images of unexpected life, growth, and provision in places that seem barren. It’s a reminder that God brings newness even in the most desolate of circumstances. What we see as impossible, God sees as an opportunity for transformation.
And this message of renewal is not confined to Isaiah. The Bible closes with the grandest declaration of change in Revelation 21:5, where Jesus says, “I am making everything new!” The scope of God’s work is vast—it encompasses not only our individual lives but the entire world, all of creation.
So whether change comes as a whisper or a roar, whether it’s a gentle nudge or a painful push, we can trust that God is at work in it all. The same God who makes a way in the wilderness is the one who is making everything new, and His faithfulness remains steady, even in the midst of our ever-changing lives.
