“Do not call to mind the former things,
Or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I am going to do something new,
Now it will spring up;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:18–19 (NASB)

In 2008, going through a dark period in my life, where change was happening to me and not by me, I felt powerless, alone, and afraid. I believed I had done everything right, and I felt like a complete failure. Kneeling beside a maple tree I had planted on my mini farm, above my beloved cat Newton’s grave, I was broken, and cried out to God. I was instantly comforted; He said I would be all right.

Not long thereafter, I met a wonderful woman who would become my  wife. God was right, of course. Together we found what it’s like to have a relationship with Jesus. Together we got to (and continue to) know Him, not just know of Him.

About nine years later, I had another God-nudge. I was doing well with my talents, but I could do better. The “better” wasn’t about earning more or advancing my career. It was about stepping out on faith to become an independent consultant serving small and midsized businesses. I was afraid of leaving the workforce, as I had been constantly employed since my teenage years (including part-time jobs in school), but I followed.

Not only did the business thrive, it became a platform for me to be open about my faith in the workforce. In a world where expressions of faith in the workplace can sometimes feel unwelcome, I chose to be open about mine in public forums such as LinkedIn and speaking at events.

God was right again, of course.

Now, about nine years later, I have another God-nudge. Recently, I have been asking and praying, “Lord, send me,” as written of in Isaiah:

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!'” Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

Once again, there is the familiar uneasiness that accompanies change. Faith isn’t the absence of uncertainty; it’s choosing to trust God in the midst of it. Change is inevitable, but God remains constant. In response, He has placed in front of me a path that is only beginning to unfold. Proverbs 20:24 (NASB) says, “A person’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his way?”

I don’t know exactly where this roadway in the wilderness leads. But I know the One who promised it, and that is enough.

God is right, of course.

Image: ChatGPT