“Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past. I am creating something new. There it is! Do you see it? I have put roads in deserts, streams in thirsty lands.” Isaiah 43:18-19.
Trying to make sense of things often moves me to see experiences as part of a process. Last week I wrote about being faced with a long, dry season of nothing going as planned, and how to stand while enduring the time. Now consider what coming out of that period looks like. Some people may hit the ground running and leave a trail of smoke. For others there may be a need to decompress after the long expedition. The mind and spirit may need time to restore themselves to right order. In that restoration there must be a grounding in who you are now. Before moving into your “next”, you have to get comfortable in your new identity. Ponder three things to focus on.
First, get rooted in the new you, the one with Holy Spirit power. While you were enduring the challenges, you were also growing, maturing and being prepared for something greater. In the sacred text of the Holy Bible, the Israelites wandered the desert much longer than they needed to because of doubt and fear. They forgot about the power that surrounded them. They were blind to the power that was in them to do more and be more. How are you feeling differently about yourself after coming through a harsh trial? What do you sense about how you are showing up with other people now? Have you noticed that you stand taller?
Second, See your landscape and horizon differently. This is a new season. Be careful not to try keeping this new person bogged down with old mindsets. From a wasteland, notice abundant opportunities for you to show up. The photo shows flowers blooming from volcanic ash. You are being ushered into a new place to do something new, something essential. Look around. What catches your attention and is calling out to you? Search for and find the people you can connect with who are waiting to help you.
Third, apply the lessons learned as you trekked your wilderness. The journey was experiential learning at work. What are your take-away insights from the trials? How are you perceiving yourself, your circumstances, your opportunities, your strengths now? You are stronger now, but don’t lose humility with that new awareness! You should also walk wiser now. It’s time to sing a new song. Be sure to include words of gratitude for your restoration process.
