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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When Life Goes Awry - Martin Wiles

Take your son, your only son . . . and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you. Genesis22:2 NLT

Life is fickle.

When I think I’ve figured it out, I experience or witness something that makes no apparent sense, such as with Ed. He was a local pastor and good friend on his way to a church member’s house. They were off for a day of visiting. When Ed pulled up in the driveway, he was overcome with a bout of dizziness. Then a violent seizure grabbed him.

Ed’s friend immediately called 911. Five more seizures followed, the last so severe it dropped his heart rate, causing doctors to place him on a ventilator. Over a week later, Ed still lingered on the ventilator because of a swollen tongue and throat.

My wife and I spent hours with his family in the waiting room. Despite not knowing the outcome, I never heard them question God’s purpose. Life had gone awry, but they didn’t go awry with it—even when Ed had to retire from preaching and draw disability.

Abraham was in a similar senseless situation. He and his wife had waited years for God to deliver on His promise of a son. As a young man, God told Abraham to journey to a nearby mountain and sacrifice that same son. Abraham didn’t question God but obeyed. Of course, God intervened just as He did in Ed’s case—although perhaps not in the way Ed might want.

I, too, have experienced quite a few “life goes awry” episodes. Like Abraham and Ed’s family, I’ve learned to be content regardless of the situation. Knowing the character of the God I serve makes this easier—although it doesn’t always take away my questions. Perhaps He’ll answer those in the future—or maybe it won’t matter once I reach heaven. For now, I trust He’s a loving God who always has my best interests at heart. He’ll never do anything to harm me or destroy my trust in Him.

We can learn many vital spiritual lessons when life goes awry. How can you better let God teach and develop you when life appears to take a wrong turn. 

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Redeeming Suffering - Martin Wiles

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Psalm 119:71 NLT

He was godly, but not redeeming suffering caused him to question God’s purposes.

Ted was driving down the road one day doing what he did best: visiting members of his church. Although he didn’t feel quite right that morning, he decided to work nevertheless. As he turned into the church’s driveway, things went black. The next thing he remembered was sitting in a ditch.

While waiting on a wrecker, he suffered a seizure that broke one of his shoulders and dislocated the other. With slings on both arms, he could not do anything for himself. As he prepared for bed a few nights later, he suffered a stroke that took ninety-five percent of his vision in one eye and left one side of his body numb. As we visited with him and his family, his repeated questions were, “Why did God allow this to happen? Did I do something wrong? Is he punishing me?”

Ted had to learn to accept the same spiritual advice he’d been giving church members who faced unexplained suffering. The psalmist found good in suffering even though the nature of it was bad. An important lesson emerged. Suffering taught him to pay closer attention to the principles of God’s Word.

My times of suffering have brought me to God’s Word more often for comfort and assurance. I’ve had my share of suffering—physical and otherwise. I didn’t enjoy any of it, but I discovered that when I responded correctly and viewed it with the proper perspective, there were benefits from the experience.

Suffering focuses my attention more keenly on God, who controls the type of suffering as well as the length of it. Suffering drives me deeper into spiritual exercises such as praying, searching the Word for promises and comfort, and paying closer attention to the pain others are facing. Suffering also forces me to accept the same assurances I’ve given others when they’ve suffered and asked me, “Why?”

Rather than turning away from God and becoming bitter, let episodes of suffering lead You into a more fulfilling relationship with Him.

Prayer: Father, while we don’t enjoy suffering, we believe You have a reason for allowing it. Help us learn the lessons You desire to teach. 

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