The Old Normal is Gone, But Does God Have Something Better?

“I can’t wait for life to go back to normal.”

Chances are, you’ve heard this said at least once and maybe even uttered that phrase yourself. 

But what if God has something better in store than “normal?”

What happens when the stay-at-home orders lift? Will we come back together in our sanctuaries with a different mindset and gratitude for life? Or will we rush right back to the hustle-and-bustle of work and family and extracurricular activities? What if instead we rejoiced in the noisy car ride with a backseat filled with kids, found joy in the long line at the grocery store, or began to appreciate those impromptu office conversations? Some things are difficult to rejoice in and some moments are easy to fill with impatience and a hurried heart. But what if in this season we chose to cling to what God wants to teach us as we slow down? What if we choose to rejoice in the relationships and experiences that we’d normally rush through?

The Lord is big enough and powerful enough to use any and all situations, even a coronavirus-induced stay-at-home order to help us to grow in our faith.

Imagine the shift in culture if we were glad for these unexpected delays. We may look back on life before this pandemic and wish to go back, but before it’s over, let’s stop and think about how God may be calling us to change. Every day, so many of us struggle with finding joy and gratitude in the mundane. It’s easy to allow our busy lifestyles as pastors and church leaders to keep us from experiencing even a moment of stillness. And many of us can agree that COVID-19 reminded us of how easy it is to forget the value of a handshake at church or even a quick lunch meeting with our team.

Before we jump back into life as we knew it, let’s experience everything God offers us in this season, and move forward in it.

Psalm 118:24 says,

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Every day and every season has the opportunity to bring something great into our lives. It’s our responsibility to embrace the lessons learned and step into a new future because of them. Our prayer for pastors in this season is that we would allow God to fill our hearts with gratitude in this season so that we can step into a new normal on the other side with new expectations and enthusiasm for what God has ahead!

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As pastors, the most difficult people to lead can be ourselves. In the past several weeks we have counseled, prayed with, encouraged, and guided others in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, but what do we do when the crisis begins to wear on us? Learn more about how we can lead ourselves in a season that feels hard and full of uncertainty.

Let us not simply return to “normal” after re-entry. We have seen the impact you all are making through Church Online Platform, and you are truly reaching the lost. You have been given a new opportunity in this season to further your impact. Watch this video from Pastor Sam Roberts to learn why it is so important to continue this impact as we re-enter physical buildings.

Depending on where in the world you live, you may still be working remotely with kids at home. If you’re still adjusting to a new normal of working remotely with kids, this video may be for you! Listen as two Life.Church pastors share a few pieces of advice that have been helping them show up for work and show up for their family as well!

Is your family having a harder time adjusting than you? Check out these 3 ways to help your kids adjust to a new normal as you go from school at home into a summer at home.