June 16th, 2026
Change is an inevitable part of life. The seasons shift from spring to summer, families grow and evolve, and our circumstances constantly transform. Yet there's something curious that happens as we journey through life—we often find ourselves resisting change rather than embracing it. We become comfortable with the familiar, even when God is calling us toward something new.
The truth is, God is always doing something new. He never stops working, never ceases moving, and never abandons His plans for His people. The question isn't whether God is active in our lives and our world. The question is: Are we perceiving what He's doing?
The truth is, God is always doing something new. He never stops working, never ceases moving, and never abandons His plans for His people. The question isn't whether God is active in our lives and our world. The question is: Are we perceiving what He's doing?
The Danger of Dwelling on the Past
Through the prophet Isaiah, God spoke powerful words to His people—words that still resonate today: "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).
Notice what God doesn't say. He doesn't diminish the importance of the past. He doesn't claim that yesterday's miracles weren't beautiful or blessed. The Israelites had witnessed incredible things—the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from rocks. These were genuine, powerful encounters with the living God.
But God's people had become so enamored with those past miracles that they couldn't see the new work God wanted to accomplish. They were stuck looking backward, expecting God to repeat Himself rather than trusting Him to do something fresh and different.
This is the danger of dwelling on the past. Not remembering it, not learning from it, not being grateful for it—but dwelling in it to the point that we miss the present movement of God.
Think of it this way: when you're driving, you have a large windshield in front of you and a small rearview mirror. Both are important, but their sizes reveal their purpose. We need to glance at where we've been, but we're meant to focus on where we're going. When we spend more time looking backward than forward, we're driving dangerously.
Notice what God doesn't say. He doesn't diminish the importance of the past. He doesn't claim that yesterday's miracles weren't beautiful or blessed. The Israelites had witnessed incredible things—the parting of the Red Sea, manna from heaven, water from rocks. These were genuine, powerful encounters with the living God.
But God's people had become so enamored with those past miracles that they couldn't see the new work God wanted to accomplish. They were stuck looking backward, expecting God to repeat Himself rather than trusting Him to do something fresh and different.
This is the danger of dwelling on the past. Not remembering it, not learning from it, not being grateful for it—but dwelling in it to the point that we miss the present movement of God.
Think of it this way: when you're driving, you have a large windshield in front of you and a small rearview mirror. Both are important, but their sizes reveal their purpose. We need to glance at where we've been, but we're meant to focus on where we're going. When we spend more time looking backward than forward, we're driving dangerously.
Leaning Into the Turn
Athletes understand something profound about momentum and change. Watch a motorcycle racer navigate a sharp corner at high speed—they lean so far into the turn that their knees touch the ground. Cyclists in the Tour de France lean together as they round curves, gaining speed rather than losing it. Runners lean forward at the finish line, pressing toward the goal.
They don't lean away from the turn. They don't try to remain neutral or upright. They lean in—and that's what gives them the advantage.
This is the posture God invites us to take toward His future. Not resistance. Not even passive acceptance. But active, intentional leaning into what He's doing.
Leaning into God's future means recognizing that He is a planning God. He doesn't operate haphazardly or improvise as He goes. Scripture reveals that God makes plans, has visions, and works purposefully. And because we're made in His image, we too are designed to be people who plan, dream, and work toward God-given visions.
They don't lean away from the turn. They don't try to remain neutral or upright. They lean in—and that's what gives them the advantage.
This is the posture God invites us to take toward His future. Not resistance. Not even passive acceptance. But active, intentional leaning into what He's doing.
Leaning into God's future means recognizing that He is a planning God. He doesn't operate haphazardly or improvise as He goes. Scripture reveals that God makes plans, has visions, and works purposefully. And because we're made in His image, we too are designed to be people who plan, dream, and work toward God-given visions.
The Challenge of Waiting
But here's where it gets difficult. God's timeline doesn't always match ours.
The prophet Habakkuk received this word from God: "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. They will not be delayed" (Habakkuk 2:3, paraphrased).
Slowly. Steadily. Surely.
These three words describe how God often works. Not according to our microwave mentality, not on our demand, but in His perfect timing. And this requires one of the most difficult spiritual disciplines: waiting patiently.
Perhaps you're waiting right now. Waiting for a prodigal child to return home. Waiting for healing in a broken relationship. Waiting for clarity about your calling or direction. Waiting for breakthrough in your circumstances.
Waiting is hard. But God's instruction is clear: wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
The key is understanding that God's perceived slowness doesn't indicate His absence or disinterest. He is always working, always moving, always faithful. Even when we can't see what He's doing, even when we don't know when or how He'll accomplish His purposes, we can trust that He is good, He is great, and He never abandons a work He has started.
The prophet Habakkuk received this word from God: "These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. They will not be delayed" (Habakkuk 2:3, paraphrased).
Slowly. Steadily. Surely.
These three words describe how God often works. Not according to our microwave mentality, not on our demand, but in His perfect timing. And this requires one of the most difficult spiritual disciplines: waiting patiently.
Perhaps you're waiting right now. Waiting for a prodigal child to return home. Waiting for healing in a broken relationship. Waiting for clarity about your calling or direction. Waiting for breakthrough in your circumstances.
Waiting is hard. But God's instruction is clear: wait patiently, for it will surely take place.
The key is understanding that God's perceived slowness doesn't indicate His absence or disinterest. He is always working, always moving, always faithful. Even when we can't see what He's doing, even when we don't know when or how He'll accomplish His purposes, we can trust that He is good, He is great, and He never abandons a work He has started.
Prayers for Power and Completion
The apostle Paul understood what it meant to pray for churches facing change and needing strength for the journey ahead. His prayers in Ephesians and Philippians offer a beautiful framework for how we can approach God's future.
Paul prayed that believers would be "strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being" (Ephesians 3:16). Not just surface-level encouragement, but deep, Spirit-given power that transforms from the inside out.
He prayed that we would be "rooted and established in love" (Ephesians 3:17)—the image of a tree with deep roots and abundant fruit, grounded in God's unfailing love.
He prayed that we would grasp "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18)—a love that surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.
And then Paul declared this magnificent truth: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. His power is already at work within us. His glory will be revealed throughout all generations.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expressed confidence "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
This is our assurance: God finishes what He starts. The good work He began, He will complete.
Paul prayed that believers would be "strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being" (Ephesians 3:16). Not just surface-level encouragement, but deep, Spirit-given power that transforms from the inside out.
He prayed that we would be "rooted and established in love" (Ephesians 3:17)—the image of a tree with deep roots and abundant fruit, grounded in God's unfailing love.
He prayed that we would grasp "how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18)—a love that surpasses knowledge and fills us with the fullness of God.
And then Paul declared this magnificent truth: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21).
God is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. His power is already at work within us. His glory will be revealed throughout all generations.
In his letter to the Philippians, Paul expressed confidence "that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
This is our assurance: God finishes what He starts. The good work He began, He will complete.
Perceiving the New Thing
So the question remains: Do you perceive it? Do you see the new thing God is doing?
It's springing up around you—in your life, in your family, in your community of faith. God is making ways in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. He's doing immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.
The invitation is to lean in. To stop dwelling on the past and start perceiving the present work of God. To wait patiently when His timing seems slow, trusting that He moves slowly, steadily, and surely toward the fulfillment of His promises.
To be strengthened with power through His Spirit. To be rooted and established in love. To partner with the good work God is doing, confident that He who began it will be faithful to complete it.
The future God has for you is worth leaning into. Don't miss it by looking backward. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.
God is doing a new thing. Do you perceive it?
It's springing up around you—in your life, in your family, in your community of faith. God is making ways in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. He's doing immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.
The invitation is to lean in. To stop dwelling on the past and start perceiving the present work of God. To wait patiently when His timing seems slow, trusting that He moves slowly, steadily, and surely toward the fulfillment of His promises.
To be strengthened with power through His Spirit. To be rooted and established in love. To partner with the good work God is doing, confident that He who began it will be faithful to complete it.
The future God has for you is worth leaning into. Don't miss it by looking backward. The windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.
God is doing a new thing. Do you perceive it?
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