It’s daybreak. You are standing on the edge of the sand, looking out into the ocean, waiting for the tide to once again submerge your bare toes. You are longing for that feeling of the tide change to sweep over you. You are watching, anticipating—waiting for that moment, confident that it will come. Because, just like clockwork, it always does. 

Sometimes our lives can feel like this moment. Dawn is coming, and we can sense it. We feel the changing of the tides, but there is this great anticipation leading up to this moment. We are almost breathless with the expectation of a new day. 

In our theme passage of Scripture for Arise this season, we now see a shift. There is a change in the air. 

“The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived. I hear the cooing of doves in our land, filling the air with songs to awaken you and guide you forth.  Can you not discern this new day of destiny breaking forth around you?” — Song of Songs 2:11-12 (TPT)

Let me ask you, Sis: Can you feel this awakening taking place in your own life? Is God stirring something new in your life? Ponder this for a moment, and sit in it. 

Dawn signifies hope. A new day reveals the gift of second chances. But, sometimes, we have to wait for the morning arrival.  Yet, in this wait, there is a confident and active participation in the promises of God. We have the opportunity to show up and watch. To hope. To look for and lean into the promises of God, to hope when we do not yet see the evidence of a change. 

In our society, this is a little unusual. As a result, we can feel a little alone because the world doesn’t understand this hope that comes from Christ alone. In Scripture, the prophet Micah was an example of what it looked like to be uncommon, even when everyone else chose to adopt a doomsday perspective: 

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my savior; my God will hear me.” — Micah 7:7 (NIV) 

Hope is supplied only by God because He is hope.

Let that sink in. If we hope in anything aside from God, we hope in vain. However, when we place our hope—confident expectation—in the promises of God, He will show Himself faithful. So, if we lean into anything but Him, we will miss it. We won’t experience hope because there is only one true source of hope, and His name is Jesus. 

“When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants. And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” 
— Hebrews 6:13-14 (NIV)

God’s promises are trustworthy.

New signifies an awakening, freshness, and rebirth. He promises us a new day, but often, in order to receive this promise, He requires something of us. Sometimes His promises are conditional on our obedience. Let me say that again. 

Sometimes God’s promises are conditional on our obedience.

In Isaiah, God makes this very clear: 

“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 desert and streams in the wasteland.” 
— Isaiah 43:19 (NIV) 

God is making a way in the desert, both proverbial and physical. But He is asking us to let go of the baggage we have been carrying through every season of our life. The new year (2022) is coming. We are about to enter a fresh season of life. So, let me ask you, dear sister, what have you been clinging to, ever so tightly? Allow God to sweep your past and spring you forward into the new He has in store for you. 

Sister, the tides are changing! Are you going to join me at the shoreline? Let’s meet together at dawn as we feast together on the promises of God and wait in anticipation for His movement. 

- Kierstin Almstrum, Soul Care + Connections Lead