Not all of us can afford the newest and shiniest things. Sometimes, we think such purchases are a waste of money and we feel stuck with the items we already have. We definitely wouldn’t expect someone else to replace all of our old, broken things with something brand new, right?

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36:26

On a cloudy afternoon, or in any time of the day you prefer, we may find ourselves reflecting on the pain, confusion, stress or other negative feelings from our lives. We tend to be affected by the events in our lives that make us feel the worst. Whether it was something that happened years ago, or it was an event that just occurred recently, we treat those memories as the the most important parts of our existence. We tell ourselves we will always be stuck with our fears, our hatred, and our broken hearts.

But God tells us something different in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

How is what this verse describes even possible? New heart? New hopes? Everyday? Is God really able to do such a thing? The answer is a definite “yes.” It’s more than possible. God’s grace and love for us is higher than mountains and wider than a thousand seas. Actually, it is indescribable. He doesn’t want us to lose ourselves in the mistakes or difficulties of the past. He wants us to enjoy life at its fullest, and to experience living a life with Christ. He gives us a brand new heart to see that there’s more to our lives than those thoughts which imprisons. He sent us a spirit to encourage us while we are on our Christian journey. He gives us this because He wants us to face a new beginning, a fresh start in our lives. Let us desire for it and it will be given to us.

Let us not be trapped in the past. No looking back. No more thoughts that would reopen the scars of the past. If we desire a new heart from the good Lord, He’ll grant us that and cover us in new hopes, new patience, new strength, and love everyday of our lives.

To answer the first question, it was never difficult for the Lord to give us a something shiny and new - a new life, a new heart, and new hopes. The only difficult thing is if we will truly seek it.

Discussion Question: What is a scar from your past that God has healed?

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