"When Spring Bursts Forth"

What we identify as impossible barriers in our lives are no problem for the Lord. He had the same power to deal with rivers, mountains, or the barren desert. Why do you think that He can’t handle your problems?

3. Moving On to New Things: V. 19 says, “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah brings the people to realize that spring is ready to burst forth in their lives. The hard winter is finally over for them. He is saying to them that “God IS doing a new thing right now. It IS springing up right now.”

A few verses earlier in Isaiah 42:9 he says, “the former things have taken place and new things I DECLARE before they spring into being. I announce them to you.” Now he is saying, “it IS time. It IS springing up right now.”

God wants us to look ahead to new miracles in our life that will overshadow the old ones. It’s time to DECLARE that spring is here. Answers to prayer are BEGINNING to happen. Many of you have prayed for a long time about things and you haven’t seen any answers yet to your prayers. You might be tempted to be discouraged and be ready to give up hope. The people in Isaiah’s time probably felt this way too.

Mark 4:26-28 gives us a picture of how things grow in the natural realm. It gives an image of the SILENT but CERTAIN gradual growth of events in God’s timing. The parable of the growing seed tells us that the seed is planted--it sprouts and grows though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel...” Our prayers are like this accomplishing their work even when we can’t see anything happening.

Isaiah goes on to say the new thing that God is doing shall “Spring forth” giving an indication of its RAPIDITY. Once God begins to answer our prayers, it can happen very quickly. The Lord will do a new thing and it will not be inferior in any way to the things of old.

The spring of the year brings the rebirth of nature--new beginnings. The crocus breaks through the ground with purple blooms, the bright yellow daffodils open up in a blast of color after the drabness of winter. The dogwoods and redbuds bloom and birds begin to sing. Our spiritual life is renewed very much the same way.

“Do you not perceive it,” asks Isaiah? Begin to be more open and perceptive to God’s work in your life. Be on the lookout for indications of spring. Don’t dwell on the past. Begin to thank Him IN ADVANCE for doing a “new thing” in your life. EXPECT new miracles to “spring forth and burst out” at this season.

Let us pray: