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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Ruptured Routines - Martin Wiles

Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 3:10 NLT

For a creature of habit, a change in the morning routine is nerve rattling.

The time had come for a change. For ten years, I had worked at jobs that required me to begin the day early in the morning. Exercising before work was out of the question. But now things were different. I wasn’t punching a time clock, and my work schedule was flexible. So I made the announcement to my wife: “Tomorrow, I’m going to change my schedule.”

Change doesn’t come easily for me, so the day before my routine rupture I went over in my mind how I wanted my new schedule to look. Get up, drink a glass of orange juice while I write, then walk, eat, shower, and work.

Having planned for the change made it easier to adapt. I arrived at the office at the same time I normally do. I felt good, and I no longer had to endure the hot afternoon sun.

God is a routine rupturer. He has ruptured my routine numerous times, and the Bible’s pages are full of examples where He did the same for others. In this case, Moses. Brought up in the finest pleasures of Egyptian life, Moses chose to leave it all behind to identify with his people—who were slaves. But that wasn’t enough. God told him to leave his shepherding lifestyle behind and lead his people out of slavery.

God ruptures our routines when He wants to send us in a new direction, as He did Moses. He doesn’t always tell us why, but He always leads us faithfully. God isn’t against change, nor should we be. Change isn’t easy, but when God asks us to change our routines there’s a reason. He doesn’t ask us to change merely for change’s sake.

With the new routine, God teaches us lessons. The lessons are as varied as the changes He takes us through, but they are all important. These lessons will relate to what He is about to do in our lives.

And anytime God ruptures our routines, He will hone our trust and deepen our faith in Him. Moses had to allow God to do this so he could man-up to the task God gave him.

Don’t fear when God ruptures your routine. His new routine will be better than your old one.

Tweetable: How do you handle changes in your routine?

Prayer: Father, give us faith to trust You when You rupture our routines. 

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