Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

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.

                     Isaiah 43. 18-19

(These hard things

  and difficult journey,

             God redeems

to strengthen us,

to guide us,

to know Him more.

Just part of the training program

    that we may not just survive

    but thrive in what is to come.

Along the way,

we learn not to despair over circumstances

     but seek to bring His name

                         even here.

God is bringing about something new.

   We just cannot yet see it.

We have just to be faithful.

    And "Trust Me in this.")

O LORD,

Help us to not be enslaved

   by our past,

knowing that it does not define us,

           but You redeem.

And we can know You more.

Your work in our lives

         is far deeper than we

         can ever know.

Your power bubbles up within us

     for Your glory,

                  even in this.

Help us to keep our eyes on You.

Empower us to not miss

           what You are doing.