A pastor who was trained in trauma and grief counseling commented, “The greatest challenge for hurting people is often not the immediate heartache of the loss. Instead, the biggest problem is adjusting to a different kind of life that follows. What was once normal may never be normal again. So the challenge is to assist and help the person to adjust to a “new normal.” The new normal brought drastic changes in: health, family, finances, adjustments, death, or in unexpected events. What once was, may never be again. Things done cannot be undone. Life may never be the same again. You may think, “If Only I had…” Well, if you had, it probably would not have made a difference. You ask “Why?” Well, even if you knew why, it still happened. Job learned to stop looking at “why” and looked to “Who.” He finally said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:15). Like Job, stop trying and start trusting. If you continue to remain and review the past, you will continue to remain and review the past all your life. If you continually rehearse it, nurse it, and curse it, it will slowly control and consume you. Don’t rehearse it, nurse it, curse it, but reverse it. Get up, get on, and get over it.
Name one person who has not had problems; why should you be an exception? Others have overcome, so can you. It is not what happens to you but in you that makes the difference. Greatness is not determined by what it takes to start you, but stop you. A failure is not someone who fails, but someone who quits. I have never seen a happy quitter. Don’t faint, but be faithful, and you will reap (Gal. 6:9). “But this one thing I do, forgetting those things …behind, and reaching forth unto those things [new normal] which are before” (Phil. 3:13). The Lord also gives seven promises to all seven churches and Christians who overcome opposition and obstacles (Rev 2-3). Do not be overcome, but be an overcomer. Learn that afterward you will slowly become stronger, sweeter, and more sensitive (1 Peter 5:10). Accept the fact “What was once normal is no longer normal.” The new normal has no overnight solutions. The healing process requires both pain and patience. Look at obstacles as opposition that must be overcome. You can do it because others have done it. No matter what happens, the Lord will never leave or forsake you (Heb. 13:5). He promises to strengthen you for all things (Phil. 4:13). You cannot change the past, but you can change the future. First step: (1) Put off your old normal life. (2) Put on your new normal life (Read Col. 3:7-15). It’s time to start a new beginning with the Lord’s help, and live your new normal!
There are times in all our lives when we need a new beginning – Fred Brown
