December 31, 2025
Standing On The Edge
Isaiah 43:18-19 – “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 glittering sphere hovers above Times Square, poised for its annual descent. Crowds gather shoulder-to-shoulder, faces tilted upward in anticipation. Television cameras broadcast this moment globally as millions join the countdown. Ten… nine… eight… The collective energy builds toward that suspended moment between what has been and what will be. The seconds between years create a symbolic threshold that humanity has marked since ancient times.
Standing on the edge of a new year evokes unique reflection. Unlike birthdays which mark individual journeys, or anniversaries which commemorate specific relationships, the new year represents universal transition. We stand together at this juncture—reviewing the path behind while peering into possibility ahead. The calendar’s turning page creates a shared opportunity for both assessment and aspiration.
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the importance of threshold moments. The Israelites marked their escape from Egypt with Passover. Joshua established memorial stones at the Jordan crossing. The early church commemorated Christ’s resurrection weekly. These practices recognize our need for punctuation marks in time—opportunities to remember divine faithfulness and recommit to covenant relationship.
Isaiah’s prophetic voice speaks perfectly to our year-end position. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past,” he instructs—not advocating historical amnesia but warning against being imprisoned by what lies behind. “See, I am doing a new thing!” comes the divine declaration—a reminder that God’s creativity continues unabated, bringing unexpected renewal even to wilderness and wasteland experiences.
Our annual edge-standing ritual matters spiritually. It acknowledges both human finitude—another limited segment of days complete—and divine infinity—the Creator continuing to unfold His purposes across generations. The counting down reminds us that we measure time but God transcends it, working through it while remaining beyond its constraints.
As this year concludes, we stand not merely at the edge of a calendar page but at the threshold of continued divine activity in our lives and world.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, as I stand on the edge of this new year, help me release what needs to be left behind while embracing the new things You are doing. Amen.
Reflection Question: What “former things” from this past year do you need to release in order to fully embrace the new things God wants to do in your life?