A New Normal - Martin Wiles

You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north. Deuteronomy 2:3 NLT

Monday morning arrived, and I couldn’t remember what I needed to do first.

For the previous four years, I had observed the same morning routine. My profession as a school teacher required me to arrive at school by 7:30 a.m. But things changed when I changed employment. I still kept office hours at my new employment, but the hours were variable, giving me more flexibility.

My first morning was slightly confusing. I was unsure whether to follow the same order I used before or rearrange it. I chose the latter but soon found myself confused about what to do first. I also forgot to do some things I had been doing with predictability for the last four years.

The trip from Egypt to the Promised Land was brief—or at least should have been (Deuteronomy 2:3). Stubborn rebellion by the Israelites caused them to wander in the wilderness for forty years until the rebels died. That’s when God gave them a new normal. No more wilderness. Now it was time for them to enter the Promised Land.

New norms can bring anxiety. The Israelites would immediately pass through territory belonging to the Edomites. While they were relatives, they weren’t friendly relatives. God reminded his people that he had been with them in the past and would be with them on this new normal journey as well. God never forsakes us when he leads us into new norms. His indwelling Spirit has the power to soothe our anxieties regardless of how intense they may seem.

New norms can usher in unprecedented victories. With a new fighting force, God led his children to capture land belonging to Sihon the Amorite and Og, king of Bashan. Along with anxiety came victory. God doesn’t lead us to new normals so that we’ll have some place fresh to go. He has plans that will involve us in his Kingdom advancement.

New norms invite the enemy’s attention. Moses experienced victory, but because of earlier disobedience, he couldn’t enter the Promised Land. God has plans for victory by leading us to the new norms, but as always, our enemy works to bring defeat. Honing our faith in the new normal keeps us from falling into the enemy’s traps.

Rather than being overwhelmed by anxiety, enjoy the new norms that God brings you.

Father, help me to trust you when you bring me into new norms. 

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Transformation Killers - Martin Wiles

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2 NKJV

 

We were on the precipice of a breakthrough when I heard those infamous words: “We’ve never done it that way before.” Transformation killers. 

 

Every church I’ve led wanted transformation of some sort. I witnessed it before accepting the position, but the key leaders also saw it. 

For one, it was size. They had dwindled to thirty-five people. Young adult families with children had moved away. The church needed new programs. At the next church, a new building lay on the horizon for some. The current one had deteriorated. Bats filled the belfry. No bathrooms existed upstairs. The next church was steeped in traditions that were killing the church's future. 

 

As the other leaders and I attempted to enact the changes necessary for transformation in appearance, attitudes, and attendance, we were often met with resistance: We’ve never done things this way before. We can’t afford for people to leave. How will we pay for it? Are we large enough to support this program?

We All Need Transformation Sometime

 

Churches periodically need transformation because those of us who go there need transformation. Instead of conforming to the world's destructive attitudes and evil actions, Paul says we should transform or renew our minds so that it reflects Christ’s thoughts.

Watch the Transformation Killers

 

Discouragement, fear, unforgiveness, and pessimism are all transformation killers. Naysayers will always be present when transformation lies on the horizon. Their lists of reasons why transformation can’t take place can be lengthy, but they are all designed to discourage enthusiasm, whether they realize it or not. Discouragement can spread like a raging wildfire and bring pessimism with it. Both will kill excitement.

 

Fear is sometimes behind transformation resistance—fear of change, fear of the different. But God isn’t the author of that spirit. He gives a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. Belief, faith, and trust will drive away the fear of transformation.

 

Unforgiveness will also kill transformation by preventing us from working together to make it happen. It can be old feuds or conflicts between personalities.

 

Give God any mindset that keeps you or your church from being transformed.

 

Father, renew my mind daily so my actions will move me into the areas of transformation you desire.

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The Uncomfortableness of Change - Martin Wiles

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster; to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

The fish landed on the ground and flopped around, and I waited to see what would happen.

When I was a young lad, my grandmother taught me to fish, and I fished regularly until life got too busy. When I fished with my grandmother, we did so in a small wooden—and then later, aluminum—boat. If I went with my brother or by myself, I stood on the bank.

More than once, I had a fish fall to the bottom of the boat or on the bank because the hook was barely engaged or because the fish slipped from my hands as I removed the hook. As soon as the fish hit the ground, it flopped around. It was out of its normal environment. Instinct told it that if it didn’t return to water, it would die. Sometimes, the flopping was so intense that the fish actually flopped back into the water. Most of the time, it simply died.

In a verse that had immediate application to Israel but future meaning to anyone who chose to follow God, God assured His people that He had good plans for them.

Israel’s future was bright. Unfortunately, they didn’t always share God’s vision. Like a fish out of water, they flopped around, desiring what wasn’t best for them.

Being out of water makes a fish uncomfortable. Change has occurred. Rather than succumb to what’s ahead—being cooked and eaten—the fish yearns for what it has always known.

God’s plans often make us uncomfortable, too. I call it change. Instead of giving in and following what we know is a good plan, we often flop around like fish out of water until we fall back into our normal traditions or customs—where we feel comfortable again.

When God presents us with His plan, our only choices are to move ahead—kicking and screaming, flopping around—or to forge ahead with excitement and belief that where God is leading is better than where we are. A journey we can only take by faith.

God’s plan usually makes us uncomfortable, but our responsibility is to believe that His plan is preferable to ours and will always lead us to a brighter future. And it will. His plan is for our good, not disaster.

Think about how you are responding to God’s plan.

Father, give me vision to see the good plans you have for my future. 

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Change with a Purpose - Martin Wiles

Yes, the old requirement about the priesthood was set aside because it was weak and useless. Hebrews 7:18 NLT

Change isn’t easy for most people, but it’s easier to stomach when it has a purpose.

Gossip had driven the previous pastor to another venue. The church had dwindled to around thirty faithful attendees during the interim period. When the church leaders interviewed a new prospective pastor and invited him to take the helm, he said, “Here’s what I plan to do if I come.”

Change is difficult for any church, but some find it even more challenging. But this congregation knew if they didn’t change, death was just around the corner. They agreed to his goals and called him as their pastor. Soon, attitudes made a radical shift. People were excited about coming and what would happen next, perhaps because the changes had a purpose. The pastor designed the changes to transform a dying church into a living, breathing organism that would make a difference in God’s kingdom.

The writer of Hebrews wrote to people who had inherited a several-thousand-year-old tradition: the Levitical priesthood. Men were selected from the tribe of Levi to tend to the Temple, offer sacrifices for the people, and intercede with God on behalf of the people. Now God—through Jesus Christ—had changed all that. Jesus descended from the tribe of Judah, not Levi. The old system was good for a time, but it wasn’t God’s plan for it to last forever.

Change for the sake of change is difficult for most people. Most love time-honored traditions as well as the same old same old. Life is easier when we have a pattern, a routine. When something happens to uproot the norm, we often react with anger, confusion, depression, or resistance. But we can respond with acceptance.

Rarely does God work the same way during the entirety of our lives. His overarching plan for our life requires many changes along the way. Rather than resisting the changes, when we know they come from God, we should willingly accept, adapt, and conform. He is working out His goal for us and conforming us to the image of His Son. Resisting the changes God initiates can prevent our spiritual growth, put us at odds with others, and keep us from realizing the good rewards He is attempting to give us.

When God sends change, accept it willingly.

Father, help us accept the changes You send that are for our good and Your glory.

Tweetable: Does change unnerve you?  

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When the World Changed - Martin Wiles

So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and many were bitten and died. Number 21:6 NLT

I once thought I would have enjoyed living during the Great Depression, but . . .

When I was younger, I could find people who had suffered through the Great Depression. I loved talking to them—my grandfather included. I enjoy reading history books about that same period. The stock market crashed, banks closed, unemployment skyrocketed, bread lines opened, work programs appeared, people traveled across the country looking for work, and, unfortunately, many committed suicide. Some lost all they had. People learned to survive on the bare essentials. However, good things came from the economic breakdown as well. People pulled together and demonstrated kindness. They looked to each other and God. But that was then, and this was now.

“We need some groceries,” my wife said.

My monthly paycheck had arrived. Usually, my wife made a list and headed there herself. Not now. COVID-19 changed our lives and the world. Officials enacted social distancing. Some stores closed early to disinfect, our retailer being one of them.

Having just gotten over strep throat, my wife didn’t need to be around too many people. That meant going as soon as the store opened. Some stores allowed no one except senior adults in during the first few hours. I qualified. Additionally, we had two of our grandboys during the week, and we didn’t want them exposed.

So, at 6:30 am on a Sunday—enough time to shop and return before going to church, where I preached to empty pews—we pulled into the Walmart parking lot. A few others had the same idea. Go early and avoid the risk of exposure. The store would be disinfected, and most people would still be home in bed. And the shelves might even be stocked, since hopefully the hoarders would still be asleep, too. We struck pay dirt, getting everything we needed and avoiding seeing more than thirty people.

The previous day, pen sickness had overcome us. When I used the phrase on my adult daughter, she said, “What?” I had to explain. My wife and I had tired of the four walls. We needed to get out. Living in town differed from living in the country. There, we could have roamed acres of land without coming in contact with anyone. Not so in the city.

We called a couple and asked if they wanted to ride to a nearby park that officials had yet to close. The park hosted a few hiking trails, and we imagined a nice getaway where we could enjoy God’s creation and still maintain social distancing. Getting out in nature and doing a little exercise did us all a world of good. We were thankful for a place we could still go without the threat of contracting the virus that ravaged our world.

Never in all my life had I used so much hand sanitizer or washed my hands so often. I’m a firm believer that exposure to germs builds an immune system. And I think I’m right. I lick my finger before passing out papers to my middle schoolers and handle the papers they turn in without thought, washing my hands only after using the restroom or touching poisonous materials. But not then. Coronavirus changed my world.

The Israelites’ world also changed. They did their usual thing: disobeyed God. God had punished them in various ways, but this time, He rocked their world with poisonous snakes. Many died. Only those who looked at the bronze serpent Moses erected lived. Their look was one of faith. After all, faith is the one thing that gets us through a changed world.

Never in my lifetime—or in the lifetime of anyone I have known—has something changed our world as COVID-19 did in 2020. Thousands died, medicines were only experimental, and no vaccine existed. Social distancing made us feel disconnected, even though social media kept us together. But Twitter, Skype, Instagram, and Facebook didn’t substitute for a good hug, sitting next to someone, or shaking a hand.

New normals get our attention, making us sit up straighter and focus. And this one did. I’m not saying God sent the virus—He could have. After all, He did send snakes. But at the very least, He used it to bring out the good in people, to promote unity, and to help us love each other more.

When massive change comes, we can hoard and turn inwardly or turn outwardly and upwardly. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 changed our world in a way it had never experienced before. For those who responded appropriately during the virus, we, in the aftermath, now see people differently, love God more passionately, and rearrange a few of the things that we once considered necessary. After all, whoever thought toilet paper would top our grocery list?

Don’t let change diminish your trust in the God who controls.

Father, when things seem out of control, turn my eyes to the One who remains in control. 

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The New Norm - Martin Wiles

We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. Romans 5:3 NLT

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. God has sent me troubling times that tested my faith more than once. 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 the 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. 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.

Father, give me faith and courage to live in the new normals you bring. 

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Change Is Good - Martin Wiles

Live no longer as the ungodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God. Ephesians 4:17–18 NLT

Change was the norm; I merely had to adjust. So I kept telling myself, “Change is good.”

Some preachers remain at churches for lengthy periods of time. Dad never did. At least not until he reached midlife and decided to stay put for twenty years. By that time, I had long ago left home and established my own family. His moving didn’t affect me anymore.

While I was growing up, five years was the longest he had ever remained at one church—and that was to let me finish high school in the same place. Before, it was three years at one church, four at the next, and one at the following. I never established many friendships, and I was tired of saying goodbye to the ones I had. Change became the norm I accepted but didn’t like.

Believers at the church in Ephesus had undergone a change. They had discarded their immoral lifestyles and no longer worshipped a multiplicity of pagan gods. Yet the temptation to return to the lifestyles they had put aside was always prevalent.

Change is peppered with negative connotations. “We’ve never done it that way before” and “I’m not sure the people will like it” are two common objections heard when change is suggested. Some rebel against change and leave the organization or relationship. Others accept it grudgingly, sticking around to cause friction. A few embrace it and enjoy the new opportunities change can bring.

Salvation ushers in the most radical change possible. God removes our old natures and replaces them with new ones. This is change for the good. While Satan still works through our old human tendencies, we now have God’s power, allowing us to live pure and holy lifestyles. And we should. What God has changed us from lies in the past; what he has transformed us into dwells in the present and future.

This change allows us to live with the peace of knowing our Savior and we are okay. He’s wiped the sin slate clean, accepted us into His family, and established a friendship that change can never disrupt.

Enjoy the change God can bring into your life. Any change he brings is for your good.

Father, give me the courage to live by the standards of the changed nature you’ve given me at salvation. 

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