Isaiah 43:18-19 · Her Next Chapter Academy

Isaiah 43:18-19

S — Scripture

“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?”

Key Words

Former — what belonged to an earlier season.

Dwell — to remain, stay, or continually live mentally in something.

New — something fresh that God is bringing forth.

Perceive — to recognize or become aware of what God is doing.

Spring up — growth beginning to appear, sometimes before the full result can be seen.

Way — the path God provides where there previously seemed to be none.

O — Observation

God isn’t telling me that my past didn’t matter. He is telling me not to live there.

For a long time, survival became part of my identity. I learned to stay quiet, keep the peace, carry more than my share, and shrink when necessary. Those things may have helped me survive certain seasons, but they are not where God is asking me to stay.

God says, “See, I am doing a new thing.”

That means I have to be willing to look forward instead of constantly looking backward. I can remember what God brought me through without letting those experiences decide who I am today.

This new chapter requires me to recognize that Dawn survived—but Dawn is also allowed to thrive.

A — Application

I am choosing to stop making decisions based on the woman I had to be to survive.

I can set boundaries without feeling guilty.

I can speak without shrinking.

I can change my mind when something no longer aligns with God’s direction for me.

I can release relationships, habits, thoughts, and responsibilities that God never asked me to carry.

I want to stay close enough to God that when He says, “This way,” I’m not so busy staring at the old road that I miss the new one.

I don’t need to know the entire plan today. I just need enough faith to take the next step.

P — Prayer

Father, thank You for carrying me through every chapter that came before this one. Thank You for the woman who survived, but help me not to remain trapped in survival mode.

Open my eyes to the new things You are doing in my life. Give me wisdom to recognize Your direction, courage to leave old patterns behind, and faith to move forward even when I cannot see the whole road.

Teach me to walk in truth instead of fear, peace instead of people-pleasing, and purpose instead of shrinking.

I am ready for this new chapter, Father. Lead me, and I will follow.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏💜

The Lie vs. The Truth

Lie: My past determines who I am.

Truth: My past is part of my story, but God determines my purpose and direction.

Lie: Keeping everybody else happy is the same thing as keeping peace.

Truth: Godly peace does not require me to abandon myself or tolerate what is unhealthy.

Lie: Being strong means carrying everything quietly.

Truth: Strength can look like speaking up, asking for help, setting a boundary, or putting something down.

Lie: If I stop being the old Dawn, I’m losing part of myself.

Truth: Growth doesn’t dishonor the woman who survived. It allows her to become the woman she fought to protect.