A few days ago I hit a low point. I was feeling lonely and sad. I was struggling to write or get any of my work done. I just wanted to fritter away the hours with something that wouldn't remind me of the current state of my life.

 

 

A few weeks ago, I shared my struggle surrounding leaving our church home. We were in community there for over ten years, and Hubby was an associate pastor there for nine and a half years. When God moved us, we knew that He was bring us into something new and good– yet it still stings to feel forgotten by those we have done life with for so long.
 

On this day, I was lost in the loneliness. I know in my head that God will bring us into something new. He will bring us into a better place. I really believe He has spoken this to us. But my feelings don't always cooperate with my head. You know what I mean, right?
 

On this lonely day, I decided to employ my technique of ignoring those feelings. I was spinning my wheels trying to work, so I decided to do some planning for my trip to Allume (Christian blogging conference) in October. I decided it would be a nice diversion from sadness while still getting something productive accomplished.
 

God had another plan.
 

I was on the Allume site printing the schedule and trying to plan which sessions I wanted to attend, and of course, I got sucked into reading some older blog posts that I hadn't read yet.
 

A video in the sidebar caught my eye. "Top 5 Reasons to Attend Allume." I don't know why I hadn't watched it before. Maybe it was because I had already felt pulled to Allume and made the decision quickly…
 

You see, I was intent on going to Savvy Blogging this year. The night that the tickets were going on sale, I was looking at the announced Savvy speakers, and it all just fell flat for me. My excitement and the draw to Savvy Blogging was gone in a heartbeat. I couldn't figure it out. So I thought I would go over and see if Allume had announced any speakers yet. It was still pretty early so I figured they may only have a couple announced. I was wrong. They had a long speaker list announced, and when I read through them I just knew that I was supposed to go to Allume this year. I knew it had to be God because I really had never really felt a strong pull to go to Allume before. When tickets went on sale for Allume, I still had a strong feeling that I should go, so I bought my ticket!
 

But I digress… sort of…
 

As I watched the video, Sarah Mae and Logan quickly had me in tears. I knew I need the encouragement that I am sure I will find there.
 

Then Logan read Isaiah 43:19, and a floodgate broke open…

 

 

Later I went back and read the verse in context… and cried some more…

 

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.
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.

Isaiah 43:18-19

 

So now Hope springs forth.
 

God will do a new thing… He is already starting.
 

I am hungry for October and Allume.
 

I am hungry for the new thing.
 

 

Are you in a wasteland right now? Can you relate? I would love to pray for you…