Something New

I recently hired a landscaper to "trim" two overgrown bushes in our yard.

Clearly, I could have communicated more effectively because the bushes were not trimmed; they were chopped.

I was so sad to come home and see my once lush green shrubs all exposed, bare, and lifeless.

I thought for sure the damage done to them was just too aggressive, and they wouldn't be able to recover.

But, as sunny and rainy days passed, new life slowly emerged.

Soon enough, more leaves and branches began to appear, and my old, overgrown shrubbery started looking all spiffy and brand new.

Sometimes, you must cut things way back for new growth to appear.

I know it feels like life cut you off at the knees.

You didn't see this coming. The pain, hurt, and betrayal are all just too much.

It feels so intense; some days, you aren't sure if you will recover from it all.

But after some sunny and rainy days, you will slowly feel twinges of new life emerging.

And you know what? With all that junk gone, you will have more air to breathe and grow.

In no time at all, you are going to be all spiffy and brand new.

God has a way of making that happen, doesn't He?

I don't know how He does it, but he can take the most broken-down and burned-out pieces of rubble and turn them into something new and spectacularly beautiful.

And that is you.

Something new and spectacularly beautiful.

Don't you lose hope, dear one. God is springing forth something amazing.

You are going to make it.

Just you wait and see.

Isaiah 61: 1-3

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Revelations 21:15

Behold, I am making all things new.

Isaiah 43:18-19

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?