Kim Gentes

As Christians, is it normal to to encounter problems? Is it normal to regularly overcome struggles? Is it normal to fail? Is it normal to continue to have issues? What is normal?

These are good questions, because they force us to look at some deep seeded assumptions we have made about what it means to be a Christian, and what a "normal" Christian life should consist of. Problematic about these questions, however, is that there is a deeper flaw in language (or at least our use of it). 

Often times when we hear "back to normal" we think of things settling into a positive routine. We often aspire to define "normal" as a place where the positive routine is a haven from difficulties and pain. And if we should encounter difficulties and pain, well then those can't be "normal". So we go from just talking and understanding language to acting on those assumptions that undergird our use of the language. We quickly move to escape or conquer what we think is undermining our definition of normal.

That is, we keep looking at the current and upcoming struggles, problems, and challenges with the view that they must be met and succeeded. The goal of this kind of thinking is that we overcome these problems and challenges, and the reward is that all returns to "normal". But what happens is that our struggle to get back to "normal" (read "absence of problems") does not stop more problems from coming our way. In fact, sometimes our efforts to overcome problems only cause more challenges to come up. It's like the guy in quicksand. He thinks- "I am stuck!" So he struggles to get out. Bad idea. Struggling isn't the reason he got in the quicksand, but it will be the reason he will stay in it, if he doesn't stop.

The whole problem with all this is our definition of "normal" has somehow come to mean "without problems". We need a redefinition.

God is saying this-- "let Me define normal". God being who He is, has much more creative and fluid ideas than our pea brains (as my friend Danny would say) can think. Scripture articulates "normal" in a way which seems strange to us - one day at a time.

Jesus was trying to help us redefine normal when he said,

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

Notice that God defines a normal "today" and "tomorrow" as having trouble! God also helps define "normal" by His call to live in a trusting relationship with Him and to let Him transform us amidst whatever the conditions, provision, circumstances and people are in your life. This is clear from what is instructed us by Paul:

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)

Don't be pushed around by the winds, but be focused on living Christlike lives regardless of the current "issue". Sometimes it will be tough, sometimes easier. The "normal" is being changed to be like Christ, in any situation. Normal is not "no troubles". Normal is being transformed, day to day into the likeness of Jesus.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

Our struggles against issues are misplaced effort if we are hoping it will lead to normalcy.  Since, in Christ, normalcy includes struggles (at least, while we reside on this earth). Seeing momentary victories against individual struggles as a way to make it to "normal" life will always lead to a sense of isolation and failure, since we won't realize that we are living Christ's normal by following Him in the midst of the struggles.

In this new understanding of "normal", we find that God's kind of "normal" is a life where we are being transformed in the midst of our situations into the likeness of His Son. 

in His love,
Kim Gentes