Waiting for a New Normal

“New normal” is a phrase we are hearing less and less these days.  

During the early days of the pandemic, we talked a lot about how the world would change and what the new normal will look like. I’ll admit I did my share of forecasting, but now that we are nearly two years into the fight against coronavirus, I’m not sure we will ever return to normal, not even a new normal. 

What is “normal” anyway? When we speak of it as a state of being (as we do when we use the phrase “new normal”), we are referring to the usual pattern or the expected state of affairs. Normal is what usually happens. But normal is not necessarily righteous or healthy. Just because something fits into a pattern, that doesn't mean it’s beneficial. Didn’t our mothers teach us that we shouldn’t justify our behavior with the excuse, “Everybody else is doing it”?

When we look at how the Bible describes the world’s norms, it becomes clear that God offers us something better than normal.

 ·         The world is normally corrupt because of selfishness (2 Pet. 1:4), but God challenges us to deny ourselves and put others first (Phil. 2:3-4).

·         The world normally caves to temptation (1 John 2:15-17), but God never tempts anyone (Jas. 1:13).

·         The things of the world normally pass away (1 John 2:17), but Jesus gives life to the world (John 6:33; 11:25).

·         The world normally lays up treasures on earth where they will eventually rust and corrupt, but God asks us to lay up treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-21).

·         The world is normally dark, but God calls us to be the light of the world (Matt. 5:14-16).

·         The world is normally full of cares (Matt. 13:22), but God invites us to cast our cares on him (1 Pet. 5:7).

·         The world is normally condemned (John 3:17-18), but God reconciles sinners through his Son (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18-18).

·         The world normally cannot receive the Spirit (John 14:17), but in Christ we bear the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:21-22).

·         The world is normally full of hate (John 15:18-19), but God commands us to love one another (John 13:34-35).

·         The wisdom of the world is normally foolish (1 Cor. 1:20-21), but the wisdom of God is salvation through Jesus Christ.

Maybe instead of focusing on getting back to normal, we should think about the incredible transformation made possible by the power of the gospel. God challenges us to move beyond what is normal and “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).

Drew Kizer