BY: MEGAN GILMORE
“Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the deserts.” Isaiah 43:19
There are moments in life that clearly define the start of something new. That moment in time represents leaving something behind and moving forward. It can be a decision that leads to growth or destruction. God has given us the free will to choose.
I vividly remember one of my defining moments. It was the start of my summer 2015 break. I had just finished the hardest and darkest years of teaching. The school I was teaching in had a very dark and oppressive spirit. Not only was work difficult, but I had been in a relationship which drained my personal life.
There were times throughout the year when I didn’t know if I was going to make it to the next day. But, my loving and gracious Heavenly Father made sure to put a best friend in my life who made sure I saw the next day. He gave me family to love me at the darkest points. Only by the grace of God did I make it to the end of the school year, and I had a choice to make.
My dad had convinced me to let him drive me and my car to California for the summer. Everyone, except me, knew God was calling me to move away from where I thought I would have my forever home and life.
My dad came to help me move my stuff to storage and make the drive from Texas to California. The defining moment wasn’t choosing to spend the summer in California. Little did I know God was calling me to meet Him in the desert for something new.
The car was packed and ready to go. My dad started to leave the apartment complex, and as he approached the gates to leave, he stopped and asked me the defining moment question, “Are you ready to go? I won’t drive through the gates until you’re ready.” Our Heavenly father does the same, He patiently waits.
I sat there looking at the gates and wondering what had happened to me? How did I get to this point? What was I going to do now? Taking a deep breath with tears in my eyes, I told my dad I was ready.
As we drove through the gates and away, the weight of darkness and oppression began to lift. It was at that moment God was allowed the opportunity to come in and start healing me. He called me to go to the desert of California to find the new me…He met me in the desert to give me living water.
I am sitting here as I write in complete awe of what God did with my decision to drive through those gates. He has used every dark place, bad decision, and every moment of pain for His glory.
He fulfilled his promise to me in Isaiah, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the deserts.” Isaiah 43:19.
The same promise is for you! He is making a way for you in the desert places of life.
When you get to the defining moment, what will you do? Will you take a deep breath and take a plunge into the unknown of God’s plans? It may be hard and difficult, but it will be worth it! One day you will be able to behold what God has done. You will stand in awe and be amazed!
Now, I will ask you the question...are you ready to drive through the gates?