Isaiah 43:18-19 Meaning: Why God Tells Us to “Forget the Former Things”

365 Mental Health Devotional Challenge: Day 2

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 Isaiah 43:18–19
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”

Mental Health Insight – Did you know your brain cannot tell the difference between a memory and reality? When we ruminate on the past pain and trauma our brain believes we are reliving through the event again. This causes our brain’s alarm system (the amygdala) to be activated and flood our body full of stress hormones, activating your fight or flight response. 

Faith Connection – In order to counteract rumination, we can fix our mind on things God is doing in the present moment. By activity pushing your brain to focus on the positive in the present moment, you can actively transition your brain from being in fight or flight to the calm and rest part of your brain. So next time your past tries to creep up and haunt you, lets remember Isaiah 43: 18-19.

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Reflection Question: When your past starts to creep up in your mind, how can you switch your focus to the good things God is doing right now? 

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Prayer: Dear God, thank You for the way You designed my brain to heal and change. When my past feels loud and my body feels stressed, help me to pause and breathe. I choose to let go of the ‘former things’ and fix my eyes on Your goodness right now. Quiet my heart, calm my mind, and help me see the ‘new thing’ You are doing in my life today. Amen.

Further Resources

Many of you have been asking for further resources that could potentially benefit you on your mental health journey. Below I have attached a book you might find beneficial surrounding this topic!

Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess: 5 Simple, Scientifically Proven Steps to Reduce Anxiety, Stress, and Toxic Thinking – By Dr. Caroline Leaf

• Description: This book explains how our thoughts physically change our brains. Dr. Leaf provides a 5-step “Neurocycle” to help you stop the cycle of rumination, calm your brain’s alarm system, and shift your focus from past trauma to present healing.

Want to stop waiting for shipping? 🚀 You can actually start reading the many book recommendations on this blog for FREE in the next 60 seconds. Grab a [Free 30-Day Kindle Unlimited Trial here] to unlock this title and thousands of other mental health tools, instantly on your phone or tablet. (Note: Kindle Unlimited selection varies over time; check the product page for current eligibility.)

Woohoo! You have completed Day 2 out of 365 Days of our 2026 Mental Health Devotional Challenge. If you haven’t subscribed to our newsletter already please consider doing so! Each blog post will be sent straight to your email so you never miss a single day!

I can’t wait to see what God has in store for this community for 2026! I am so grateful God has brought you here. I hope you have the best and most blessed day!

Sierra Stratman MSW LMSW U/S PhD Student at Liberty University

Disclaimer

Disclaimer: I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), but I am not your therapist. The information provided in this blog post, including book recommendations and mental health insights, is for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute a therapist-client relationship, nor is it intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.