When Your Normal Is Hijacked

The other day a commercial came on that I think was about cereal. It ended with the dad giving his son a celebration hip check (because this is always what you want to do after eating Raisin Bran :) ). Both were smiling from ear to ear with their perfect father-and- son relationship in their beautiful, perfect house. Everything seemed for them... well…normal...without problems - no disease, no disorders, no Bell's Palsy. 

And this question mixed with complaint crossed my mind, "Why can't I have that?"

All in all, life has been pretty close to a "celebration hip check" for me. Yes, there have been some small bumps and stitches along the way. (And yes, I could have done without the softball collision that broke my entire face.) But for the most part, it's been good...normal. 

A few years ago our "normal" was hijacked, and my family and I were left trying to figure out what happened, what to do, and how we were going to move on without "him."

We were crushed, confused, and angry. 

This wasn't supposed to happen to us. We prayed. We believed. We trusted. 

What do you do when what you thought was promised to you doesn't come? 

What do you do when your worst nightmare comes true?

As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus asked. "Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: 'You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother. 'Teacher," the man replied, "I've obeyed all these commandments since I was young." Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. "There is still one thing you haven't done," he told him. "Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
                                                                                                        Mark 10:17-21

Most of us probably have a secret fear we would never mention to anyone. This one thing that we never want to see happen above all others. You may assume it's the same for everyone, but it's definitely not. 

In the story of the rich man, his worst nightmare was losing his money. We might assume that this fear of losing his money was greater than contracting a disease or even dying. The Bible says he actually came running to Jesus. You could almost hear the panic in his steps and the anxiety in his throat. He desperately wants to hear a positive diagnosis to what he's been wondering. 

But he doesn't get the news he wants. His worst-case scenario comes true, and he walks away with more fear than what he ran in with. 

But did he have to?

I believe that sometimes our fears and tough seasons reveal a lot about where our devotion lies and who and what we're really trusting in. I believe that this is the time where Jesus deals with the questions beneath our questions. This is where roots are uncovered. This is when the foundation gets inspected, tested, strengthened, or weakened. 

Sometimes we're crushed by an unexpected death, a bad report, or we're let go from our job.

Sometimes we're convicted about something that we don't want to let go of.

In any case we have a choice. When our normal is taken away, when our fears come true, when we're hit with something that is bigger than what we can handle, how will we respond? 

We will either walk away from Jesus, or we'll walk closer to Jesus.

Can I encourage you to step closer? Because unless you step closer you won't be able to receive everything that makes God...well, God. 

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
                                                                                                        Matthew 11:28

God is bigger than anything you're going through, but He's also bigger what you're holding on to.

Maybe for you it's allowing a "normal" to be hijacked - to exchange it for what Jesus is offering. If you're balancing the two things, it doesn't seem like a fair trade, but that's because you're looking through the wrong lenses. We must keep an eternal perspective to see the value and significance in what Jesus is calling us to do and let go of. 

Maybe you're in the middle of your nightmare come true or a tough season. You've taken a few steps closer to Jesus, but you're only buying some of what's He's selling. Please buy it all! Be patient and live in the grace He has for you today. You can't live in tomorrow's grace. It will be there when you get there. 

Notice that the rich man walked away sad. He knew that what Jesus was saying was truth, but he wouldn't make the exchange. "Normal" had him. Don't let this be you. When the Holy Spirit speaks and you know in your heart it's truth, don't walk away. Make the exchange.

God is good. He's on your side. And He'll get you through this.