Isaiah 43:18-19

18 “Forget the former things;
 do not dwell on the past.

19 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.

20 The wild animals honor me,
 the jackals and the owls,
 because I provide water in the wilderness
 and streams in the wasteland,
 to give drink to my people, my chosen,

21 the people I formed for myself
 that they may proclaim my praise.

When we began our remodel project a few weeks ago, our youngest daughter began to object verbally and physically to the change. She didn’t want new flooring, cabinets and countertops in the kitchen! Although I tried to assure her that she would come to like the new things, she didn’t believe me. With demo day in full swing I noticed her outside touching, smelling and crying over the old cabinets while talking to her “invisible Friend” (whom she recently clarified is God). Honestly, I thought she was somewhat crazy to be grieving those worn out, paint-peeling boxes of wood.

Having been labeled autistic- as different from “normal” people, I’ve come to realize the lack of social filters in her is in fact, a blessing. What she thinks and feels and senses just comes out! There’s no thought of “am I crazy to feel like this…am I going to offend someone with my opinion?” Even though our daughter bares her own unique image of God, she also resembles a lot of her Mama! As I woke up grumbling about some of the issues I saw in the new floor and cabinets, the Holy Spirit reminded me of a verse I have been studying recently:

Philippians 4:6-7

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

and so I began to talk, out loud to my invisible Friend, telling Him my worries and frustrations and feelings of grief.

Grief?

Yes. Grief.

Grief over the former things….in our kitchen and in my life.

Then as my mind flashed back to our daughter saying good-bye to our old kitchen, I whispered, “Father, I am grateful that You are the same yesterday, today and forever. Thank you for continuing to do new things in my life, my marriage and my children. Help me to deal with and not dwell on the past so that I can perceive what is springing up in Your Kingdom right NOW. Teach me to trust that You are making streams in the wasteland of my soul. Amen”