“The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37:23-24 NLT
What is normal? I mean…really? We talk about normal. We think about normal. And when everything is out of whack in our lives, we long to get “back to normal.” I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit. So have you. When faced with challenging seasons, all we want is to get back to the way things were. Back to what is familiar. Stable. Predictable. That’s what we want, but is that what we need? What is normal?
On a recent trip, I found myself in bed for an entire day with some kind of illness. Was it food-borne? Maybe. I was uncomfortable. Sick. Unable to eat anything, but I didn’t want anything to eat either. What did I want? Just to get back to normal. To do the things I normally do and eat the things I normally eat. I wanted to be comfortable and enjoy life. Perhaps that is how I define normal. What about you?
If our definition of normal is to be comfortable and enjoy life, then most of life is not normal! So much of life is uncomfortable and unenjoyable. Isn’t it? So, what is a better definition of normal? And above all, what is God’s definition of normal?
In the beginning, God created His idea of normal. I guess if I want to find out what God’s idea of normal is, I need to consider creation. When God created everything, called it good, and then placed humans in the middle of it all, what did He want? What was the purpose of all He designed?
God created Adam and Eve to enjoy and help each other, but also to enjoy and obey God. To partner with him in caring for creation and each other. What is normal for God? I guess it is creation functioning according to design. That means people who completely love and trust Him. Ouch!
If that is God’s idea of normal, then how does my idea compare with His? I want a normal that I control. A normal that lines up with my idea of the way things should be. That leaves God out of the picture, doesn’t it?
So, then I guess God’s idea of normal is for me to abandon myself to trust in His love and goodness. It’s to believe that He is present and active in every challenge. That His love will lead me to a perfect outcome on the other side. My responses to life are so far from that. I need a different perspective on normal. What about you?
God disrupts my normal for my good. What if the disruption of normal is about making a change in me and you? Most likely, the normal that we return to after a significant challenge is going to look different than the normal before. Time after time, that’s how it’s worked out for me.
If the disruption is for a reason, I need to ask myself: What am I learning?
What does God want to change in me?
What is clearer in the challenge than in the comfort?
What fears are being uncovered?
What do I rely on instead of God that has been removed?
How can I shift my attention to Him and His guidance rather than relying on my own understanding like I usually do?
I like to understand things. I will research information to help me feel like I know what is going on in me, in a situation, in my body, in the people around me. But information is a counterfeit for control. Understanding is not true peace or comfort. It is an illusion. Tell me that the next time I am in an information-seeking loop!
God’s idea of normal. What if getting “back to normal” is about trusting Him the way He designed humans to be in relationship with Him? What if the normal God desires is for me to be at rest in Him? Then God’s idea of normal is that you and I trust Him when our normal is disrupted. Trust leads to the real peace and comfort that come from relying on the God who is in control.
What would that look like? Hmmmm.
Dear friend, whatever challenge you are facing at the moment, I expect that you find yourself longing to “get back to normal.” What if you shifted your perspective to longing for God to help you completely love and trust Him? It isn’t something you can do without the Holy Spirit’s help. The fruit of the Spirit’s work in our lives is peace. What if you gave Him a chance to work that out in your life today?
Key Question: What is God’s idea of “back to normal”?
A Scripture to Consider: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalms 37:23-24 NLT
A YES Challenge: As you consider your current challenge, take some time to prayerfully reflect on the questions above. What is the Holy Spirit showing you about how to shift your perspective toward God?
Prayer: Father God, You know me. You know how deeply I desire my idea of normal. Life is so full of challenges, and sometimes I feel overwhelmed. I long for what is familiar and comfortable. But familiarity and comfort don’t require trust. What You desire is that I completely love and trust You. I can’t do that without the help of Your Holy Spirit. Help me learn what You want me to learn. Help me take another step toward deeper trust in You and a deeper relationship with You. That is what I want most. Amen.
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