Read

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? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

Think

There’s something sacred about the final days of a year. Even if your calendar is still full and your house is still loud, something underneath starts to settle. You begin to notice the quiet edges of your thoughts. You start paying attention to what you’ve been carrying—and whether you’re willing to carry it any farther.

This is a moment to ask an important question: What kind of space am I making for what God wants to do next?

Isaiah’s words in chapter 43 came to a people who had been through exile, disruption, and loss. He spoke on God’s behalf—not to minimize their past, but to reframe their future. “Forget the former things … do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

God is saying, “Don’t get so consumed with what’s behind you that you miss what I’m trying to bring up right in front of you.” This isn’t an instruction to erase your memory. It’s an invitation to shift your focus.

“Do you not perceive it?” That line hits hard. Because it’s possible for God to be doing something brand new in your life—and for you to miss it, not because you’re unwilling, but because you’re overcrowded. Distracted. Numb. Unavailable.

That’s why preparation matters. And not just externally. This isn’t about productivity or fresh starts or January goals. This is about the condition of your inner world. What kind of environment are you cultivating in your spirit as you prepare to step into what’s next?

Sometimes we assume that when God wants to do something new, he’ll just make it happen. And yes—God can move in sovereign, surprising ways. But more often than not, he prepares those who prepare room for him. He responds to availability. He plants seeds in surrendered soil. He looks for hearts that are open, uncluttered, and willing.

Look back at the Christmas story. The new thing God did wasn’t just the arrival of Jesus—it was also the preparation of people. Zechariah. Elizabeth. Mary. Joseph. Shepherds. Magi. All of them had to respond. To move. To receive. To obey.

God's work and our willingness are not equal—but they are connected. The more room we make, the more clearly we see.

Isaiah says, “I am making a way in the wilderness…” Meaning, even if the landscape of your life feels dry, tangled, or confusing, God is already clearing a path. His work often begins where you can’t yet perceive it. In the middle of what seems stuck. In the hidden places. Under the surface.

But for you to walk that path, you may need to lay some things down. Preparing for what’s next sometimes means clearing out what’s been holding too much of your heart. That might be fear. Control. Cynicism. Comfort. A story you’ve been telling yourself that no longer matches what God is trying to do in you.

What do you need to release in order to make room for the “new thing” God is preparing? And here’s another question: Would you recognize it if it came?

God’s new thing often doesn’t look dramatic at first. It might begin as a shift in perspective. A slow change of heart. A reawakened desire to pray. A conviction you can’t shake. A tenderness returning where there used to be numbness. Don’t overlook it just because it doesn’t feel grand.

Preparation is never wasted. Even if you don’t know exactly what God is doing next, you can choose to become the kind of person who’s ready when it arrives. This is where disciplines like silence, prayer, Scripture, and surrender matter—not because they earn God’s favor, but because they create capacity to perceive what God is already doing.

The “new thing” God wants to do might not be something out there. It might be something in you. A new trust. A deeper peace. A bolder faith. A softer heart. A willingness to obey without the full picture.

But none of that grows in a rushed, chaotic spirit. It needs margin. It needs quiet. It needs stillness.

You don’t have to map out your next season. You don’t need all the answers. You simply need to be available. God knows how to lead you. He’s not in a hurry, but he is intentional. And when you prepare your heart—even in small ways—you’re aligning yourself with the movement of his Spirit.

Don’t assume that the end of the year is just a time to rest or reflect. It’s also a time to ready yourself. Something new is coming. You don’t have to chase it. But you do need to clear a path.

Let God interrupt your assumptions. Let him soften your plans. Let him rearrange what needs rearranging. Because if you’re willing to make room, you might be surprised what starts to grow.

Apply

Set aside a quiet half hour today. Take a blank page and write “Make Room.” Then ask God: what am I holding on to that’s filling space in my heart? What are you inviting me to release? Wait in stillness. Jot down what comes to mind and let that become your prayer.

Pray

God, you know what’s next even when I don’t. Help me not to hold so tightly to what’s been that I miss what you’re preparing. Make space in me for your movement. Quiet the noise. Clear the clutter. Give me a heart that’s soft, willing, and awake. In Jesus’ name. Amen.