The blessing of "normal"
Faithfulness when things are going fine
Maybe it’s the novelty of being snowed in for three (going on four…likely five…let’s hope not six!) days, but I’ve found myself on a Wednesday afternoon with no clear topic in mind to share with you this week.
And maybe that’s not entirely out of the ordinary. We’re well over halfway through January; the ink has just dried on my list of goals for 2024, yet I also get the sense that this year, like the ones before it, is already moving with record speed.
To be fair, the unthinkable has happened already. Exactly a week ago, the axis of the world shifted slightly when Nick Saban announced his retirement from college football. (I, a two-time alumna of the University of Alabama, and a proud, crimson-and-houndstooth wearing Bama fan since birth, had to have a serious conversation with myself in which I contemplated whether I am even an Alabama fan, or just a fan of Nick Saban…but I digress.)
College football notwithstanding, this is also the first January in my adult (read: post-college) life that I haven’t been starting a new job. Sure, I have goals that I’m excited to pursue this year, and I anticipate excitement and change to come in 2024. But, as January slips away with every drop, drop, drop of ice melting off my roof in the weak-but-still-powerful winter sunlight, things feel pretty normal.
Obviously, on a micro-level, that’s not entirely true, as I and nearly everyone else in the northern third of my state are stuck inside the house, looking out the window at solid sheets of ice where roads used to be. And yes, a post-Saban world is certainly a reality that, though we all knew would have to happen eventually, didn’t seem like a remote possibility until it happened.
But at a meta-level, things are pretty consistent right now. It’s been a weird week, and I’ve got some busy days coming up, but by and large the most important things in my life—my faith, my relationships, etc.—are in a neutral-to-positive place.
I joined a small group Bible study with the women’s ministry at my church, and one of the questions in the introductory lesson asked participants to summarize, in one word, our walk with the Lord lately (or something to that effect). As I thought through the question and reflected on the last few weeks or so, the word that came to mind was “steady.”
That hasn’t always been the case, though. If you’ve been around for a while, you know that I spent a lot of time during my college years doubting, questioning, and feeling distant from God. (More on that here.)
I’ve had periods of excitement in my walk, coupled with feelings of love and fulfillment. I’ve had times when my hunger for knowledge was insatiable. I’ve had days, even weeks, when I have clung to my faith with white knuckles because it was the only thing keeping my head above water amidst seemingly insurmountable challenges. There have also been plenty of moments—at times prolonged—when my faith played second fiddle to some other area of life.
And while some of these circumstances are certainly preferable to others, I have to say that the seeming banality of “normal” might be my favorite.
Why? Mostly this: I think that, percentage-wise, “normal” is most of life.
Not only that—but I also think that “normal” is make or break time for growth. The habits you prioritize, form, and keep during the mundane are going to be the things that propel you to enthusiasm in the good times. They’ll also be the things that help you maintain a strong faith when the demands of life threaten to pull you in the opposite direction.
What does “normal” look like?
Reading scripture routinely
I know I sound like a broken record here, but it’s because I really believe one of the most powerful ways Christians can connect with God is through his word. I’m not perfect in my adherence to a scripture-reading plan; there are certainly evenings that I fall asleep mid-verse, waking up the next morning to the Bible app still open on my phone.
But, even during periods of what might be considered dryness during my walk with Christ, scripture has always been a consistent source of enlightenment, encouragement, and revelation. Invest time in it now; the dividends will be greater than you can imagine.
Praying regularly
I’ve had a goal for several years that prayer would become an instinctive response for me. I don’t think that I’ve gotten there yet—I can think of several moments today when I spent time spinning my wheels over an issue rather than taking it to God in prayer.
But, if it’s easier to read scripture when I feel closest to God, it’s easiest to pray when my walk is at its most difficult. During the “normal,” my goal is for both of these things to be natural reactions to the things I face day to day. Rather than ruminating over a task at work that I’m overwhelmed by or getting lost in the throes of today’s existential crisis, my goal is to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let (my) requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). And that requires lots of practice.
Engaging with my faith otherwise
This metric is less definable, because it means different things to me at different times. But, for the most part, I’m sure I can feed and nurture my faith by engaging with it outside of those dedicated daily times for studying the Bible and praying.
A few things that have been important for me have been reading books, alone and with friends, that make me think more deeply about my faith. I’ve got a few recommendations here and here, and I’m also pretty active on Goodreads if you’d like suggestions. I also love podcasts, and have found the BibleProject specifically to provide a wealth of knowledge that has made my time with the Bible so much more special and deep.
Worship music, audiobooks, articles, YouTube videos, discussion and fellowship with Christian friends—these options and more will help you grow and refine your faith as you seek to love the Lord with all your heart.
Practicing trust
When I say things are “normal,” I don’t intend to imply that I’m not working through anything at the moment. Increasingly as I’ve gotten older, I’ve found that much of the Christian walk is consistently making requests to God through prayer and then trusting that he’ll answer in the appropriate way and at the appropriate time.
Many of these prayers are “long-term” items; not a specific, “time-sensitive” supplication, but conversations with God regarding more nebulous situations. These are the requests that, though the specifics tend to change as time goes on and situations shift, cover lots of ground. Maybe you’re filling in the blanks with the frequent fliers on your prayer list.
For the most part, I think that “normal” can imply we’re waiting for the Lord to act on these long-term concerns—or waiting for strong guidance about how we should act. If it seems like nothing is happening, lean in; this is an opportunity to practice trust in God by being obedient to his commands and believing that he will make a way.
Here’s to normal days, normal weeks, normal months, even normal years. May your faith grow strong in all circumstances!
Now, LMK:
How do you make the most of “normal” times? Let me know in the comments!