Isaiah 43:16-18 (The Message Translation)
This is what God says,
the God who builds a road right through the ocean,
who carves a path through pounding waves,
The God who summons horses and chariots and armies—
they lie down and then can’t get up;
they’re snuffed out like so many candles:
“Forget about what’s happened;
don’t keep going over old history.
Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
Lord God,
you are new and ever re-newing!
And your newness scares us.
We prefer
old, comfortable, well-worn
like an old pair of jeans,
even if they don't really fit our changing bodies that well any more,
like an old rutted road,
even if it's become hard to drive down,
like an outdated operating system,
because we know where the settings are,
like an old grudge,
because even the pain has become comfortable,
like an old addiction,
because we're afraid letting go will be too painful.
We want predictability.
We want to know what to expect.
Newness is scary;
we're afraid of change,
even healthy change.
Remind us, O God, that
YOU are the One making new.
YOU are the One creating and recreating.
YOU are the One drawing us into newness.
And YOU can be TRUSTED.
The stories of the scriptures demonstrate
over and over and over
consistency of your compassion for your creation.
YOU keep covenant when we fail.
YOU deliver when we enslave.
YOU forgive when we turn away.
YOU are faithful when we break faith.
The Newness you create
will extend from your
consistent character of compassion,
seen in Christ.
Teach us to trust you,
enable us to let go of the past,
And open our hands to receive your new gifts
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.