The New Norm

Sunday, January 19, 2025
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Lord This Day Thy Children Meet"1 (Lyrics)

Romans 5:3 – And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. (NKJV)

He stood and talked to his brother, never realizing that in a few moments his life would change forever.

When I became his pastor, he was a vibrant man and a diligent church worker. Some years before, his life had been changed when he was diagnosed with a type of cancer most don't survive. But he had.

Then, it happened. Not the return of cancer, but something more permanent. Neither he nor his brother knew what was happening but that something was, was evident. A stroke slithered into his life. Although he incurred no permanent paralysis, he did suffer life-changing brain damage. For months, he couldn't stay alone. His short-term memory, for all practical purposes, disappeared. He blurted out things he wouldn't have dreamed of saying before in public. Time dragged along, but he learned he must adapt to his new normal.

Paul says what we don't enjoy hearing: troubling times produce perseverance — and perseverance ushers in new norms. More than once, God has sent troubling times my way that tested my faith. I haven't enjoyed any of them, but I have learned to find peace in the new norms.

When God sends faith-testing trials, He doesn't design them to destroy but to hone our faith. God rarely gives us the inside scoop on why He's testing our faith, but we can know it's for a good reason. He may need to stretch our faith or prepare us for a new assignment. Either way, when we endure the stretch with the right attitude, we enter into the new normal with a right spirit instead of a bitter spirit.

Rather than resist the new normal, God wants us to adapt, learn, and enjoy the new place He has brought. Typically, the new norm will give us opportunities we've never experienced previously. Using what God has taught us during the stretching period allows us to make good use of the new opportunities.

Rather than resisting your new norm, enjoy it and use it for God's glory.

Prayer: Father, give us faith and courage to live in the new normals You bring. Amen.

Forward this devotional     Share this devotional on Facebook     Like PresbyCan on Facebook

About the author:

Martin Wiles <mandmwiles@gmail.com>
Greenwood, South Carolina, USA

Send your feedback to the author

1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Excellent thoughts today, Martin. Thank you.


    Thanks Martin, blessings to you and your family, enjoy the day.


    Thank you for sharing this encouraging and enlightening devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.


    Peace is possible if – we accept what we can’t change, struggle to change what is possible and the Holy Spirit will help us know the difference. This is a tranquility comment from the Toronto Star.


    Thanks for writing this devotional.
    The new normal … Bah. It’s hard.
    Nice words don’t change things.
    It’s hard for me and everyone around me.
    Acceptance
    That God is love.
    And all is well.
    It is well.
    Thank you for writing this devotional.
    Blessings to you.


    Good morning, Martin and thank you for another of your interesting and very meaningful devotionals. Yes there are times our Lord can sure surprise us with situations that keep us in total awe! We are left wondering how to handle the situation or a “why me Lord?” question running through our minds. However, it is amazing as we ponder the event and keep faithful in prayer, we start to see more clearly why this has come upon us and what we must do to get through it. Sometimes we can be really astounded to see who the Lord brings into our lives to help us deal with what we have encountered and therefore He is ever deserving of our praise and thankfulness.
    Blessings for your very mindful writings.


    Thanks, Martin. Hard to do, but necessary for our growth.


    Thank you for the continuing daily devotional.
    Is the absence of daily hymnal part of the new norm?
    I do miss them, but I suppose there is a good reason for the change.
    Blessings
    (Canada)

Next Post
»
 



PresbyCan is a community of faithful, Holy Spirit-filled, Christ-centred, God-honouring Christians.