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Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19).

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The Lord gave this encouraging promise to a nation that has experienced both the miraculous divide of the Red Sea, and the bitter state of captivity in exile. He laid out what is expected of them to do as well as what He will do to bring about the “New Thing”.

The obligation on the part of God’s people is to “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old”.  Literally, God charged them to forget the past and do not dwell on it, whether a glamorous past or an appalling one.

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In order not to dwell in the past, it is important to consider two things among others. First, let go defining oneself solely by past successes or failures. If we become consumed by our past successes, we neither will appreciate the present nor have the faith that God can do for us today things He did in the past. The same is also true that if we define ourselves by our past failures, we will lack the faith to believe that the present can be different. In fact, to forget the past simply means you refuse to let the past control your present hope and future aspiration.

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When God says, “forget the former things”, He is calling his people to an intentional act of faith. This is not passive; it is a deliberate decision to loosen our grip on the past so we can take hold of what God is doing now. Past disappointments, unmet expectations and even former victories can quietly drain our courage and paralyze our obedience. When we allow yesterday’s experience to shape today’s faith, we hesitate to trust God for what lies ahead. But faith requires movement. To walk in God’s future, we must refuse to let the past dictate our hope, our obedience and our expectation of what God can do.

On the other hand, God is the primary actor or sole initiator of the “New Thing” He promised to do in our lives. God is going to provoke a New Thing by His sovereign grace, not human effort. The New Thing is something fresh and revolutionary – not merely a repeat of His provisions you have experienced in the past.

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Now, the nature of the New Thing, first, God promises to make provision in desolate places. “Wilderness” could represent trial, hopelessness, and scarcity. He promises a path through it, not a removal from it. This 2026, you will find guidance and direction through any challenge, because He will bring you through humanly impossible situations. Second, the promise assures us that He will bring refreshing in barren places in our lives. In 2026, you will experience abundance in areas you have once experienced emptiness in the past.

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Finally, this promise is urgent. “Do you not perceive it”, It is not a distant one, it is already in motion. As we step into 2026, the call is simple but demanding, release the past, trust God’s present work and move forward with expectation. God is already in motion. May we have the faith to recognize it, and the courage to walk in it.