Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Sometimes we experience unexpected setbacks in life and the things we once knew are stripped away.

Often these experiences will set the trajectory for our lives, where we try avoiding disappointment by not hoping for anything at all. We constantly tell ourselves, “it will never happen for me” or “I better not get my hopes up” because of what happened in the past.

I had to train myself (and still do) to not dwell on past situations. Just because it has always been one way, doesn’t have it has to remain that way. We often forget that the enemy is only as strong as the power we give him. I want to implore you to try again, believe again in the unseen despite what you physically see now. He is doing a new thing.

As well as the disappointment, a sense of regret can hold us back from the new experiences God has for us. We catch ourselves focusing solely on the idea of what could have been, only to find that we miss the gift of the present. I am privy to feeling regretful because of opportunities I didn’t take. I am my own worst enemy at times because I am my harshest critic, always feeling I should have done better. But that criticism makes no difference to my life, unless I learn from my mistakes and make changes.

“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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19, New International Version)

5 lessons from Isaiah 43:18-19:

1. Don’t dwell on the past

Whether good or bad, we shouldn’t dwell on the past. We can’t remain in the past and fully embrace the present. Sometimes we just have to let it go. You can’t receive a gift with clenched fists. Let it go!

2. You may not see it

There is no doubt that God is doing something amazing concerning you in the atmosphere, but sometimes we just haven’t grasped it yet. We may not see it because it is not in the package we expect. We may be expecting a certain sign, placing a limit on God, but He sends a sign that is completely different. We have to be aware and sensitive to His move so we don’t miss it. We may not see it because God may use a different sense to prepare us for what is coming. It could be a sound, a touch or even a smell. Stay alert and be expectant.

3. What God has for you will surprise you

It will spring forth, meaning it will be unexpected. God gives us hints if we pay attention, but we’ll never be fully prepared for what is ahead. When a seed is germinating for a long time we don’t see anything above the soil, but progress is being made underground. Behind the scenes God is working things out for us.

4. The wilderness and wasteland can be a representation of life

Wilderness is defined as ‘a neglected or abandoned area.’[1]

Wasteland is defined as ‘an unused area of land that has become barren or overgrown.’[2]

These can be metaphorically representing the areas of life we feel are fruitless or dead. There are places in our life we’ve forgotten about and neglected, such as a relationship, a project, a business or a dream. What could be considered a wasteland or wilderness in your life? What have you given up on because it seemed impossible to accomplish? He’s getting ready to do something with that desire beyond what you expected.

5. We need to believe it to see it

The popular saying ‘seeing is believing’ in terms of faith is reversed. Believing is seeing, because to have faith we need to believe what we cannot see before we see it physically. God says he’ll make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert, these are virtually impossible circumstances to witness but with God all things are possible. That is why faith is of the utmost importance, without which we cannot progress.

I never believed I could call myself a writer until this year. This is where the scripture Isaiah 43:18-19 comes to life for me. He has revived my love for writing and it’s different this time around.

Feeling like what I had to say was insignificant, I stopped writing for years - but I have found my voice, my message and my passion is stronger than ever. I feel fulfilled when I write. I feel like I belong, like I was born for this.

I really thank God for the gift He has given me to write and encourage others. He has restored my gift of writing, but this time I write with purpose. Whether or not I receive validation I still write because of the purpose attached to it. Previously I wrote for fun and I really was motivated by peoples acknowledgment of my writing; I wanted the validation from others and if I didn’t get it then I would stop. This explains my hiatus for five years.

We must take the Word and know that they are not just words, but are Spirit and Life - they are powerful. Have faith and you will see that what was lost will be found again, and it will be restored for its intended purpose with added value like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.

[1] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/wilderness

[2] https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/wasteland

With Faith, What's Lost is Found