Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.Isaiah 43:18-19
A few months ago I watched my husband plant what appeared to be a dead tree, and at first I wondered if he was all right.
The tree had been uprooted while work was being done in our backyard. It sat disconnected from the soil so long that its leaves browned and fell and the trunk dried out.
I expected we would discard it, but my husband had a different idea.
One afternoon he dug a hole, mixed in compost, and placed that dry trunk into the prepared bed. He set up an irrigation line to supply water at regular intervals and covered the roots carefully.
I wanted to ask why he was planting something that looked dead, but I held my tongue and watched.
Weeks passed and the tree seemed unchanged: dry, still, no sign of recovery.
Then one day I noticed a small green shoot emerging from the trunk. It grew quickly and looked vibrant and healthy. I was surprised and delighted.
That sight reminded me of an important truth: new life can emerge from places that seem lifeless. With the right nourishment, consistent care, and patience, what appears dead can be revived.
This applies to more than trees. A marriage that feels hopeless can be renewed. A stalled career can be redirected. Relationships that seemed beyond repair can be mended. Given time, attention, and the proper resources, change is possible.
Ask yourself where you need renewal. Is it in daily routines, in how you parent, or in how you invest your time and energy? Identifying the areas that feel depleted is the first step toward restoration.
I need renewal in many parts of my life, and witnessing that tree encouraged me. When situations look hopeless, we can choose to view them differently—as opportunities for new growth.
Spiritually, we receive nourishment through God’s Word, which sustains and guides us. Combined with patience and trust in God’s timing, we can experience the freshness and newness that He brings out of difficult or dead places.
God is portrayed as the one who brings dry bones to life (Ezekiel 37:1-14). Trust in what He can do: new life can spring up where you least expect it.
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.
It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
rivers in the badlands.
Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’
—the coyotes and the buzzards—
Because I provided water in the desert,
rivers through the sun-baked earth,
Drinking water for the people I chose,
the people I made especially for myself,
a people custom-made to praise me.Isaiah 43:16-21, MSG