Isaiah 43:18-19, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."

Think

How will things differ in a post-pandemic world? Will newfound vigilance against contagion signal the end of hugs and handshakes? Will working from home become the norm instead of the exception? These extraordinary times will eventually give way to a new normal, and that new normal can be summarized by one word - CHANGE. Most people don't take too kindly to change because change brings conflict. The security of our established routines has been uprooted, forcing us to embrace a new way of doing life. And, inevitably, this new normal ushers in fear of the unknown. Is the risk of standing still, refusing to budge from past patterns, greater than actively stepping toward the unknown? That is conflict, both internally and externally! But here's the good news about change. Yes, it will bring conflict, but conflict managed successfully brings growth. Understanding this opportunity for growth is the most purposeful way of resolving conflict. The Bible tells us that instead of looking backward at what was, to accept what is, because "what is" can only happen if God allows it. And He desires to do something new in our lives, promising to make a way through the challenges of the unknown. Trust God amid change and discover that His new normal just might be even better than ever before!

Act

Make a list of the biggest changes you're facing at this moment in your life. Beside each specific change, write the conflict that will arise as a result of that change. Then, next to the conflict, write the potential growth opportunities that can come from trusting God with the new normal.

Pray

Dear God, help me embrace change - to stop looking at what was and begin looking at what is. I trust You to make a way through the unknowns of change. Thank You for the growth in my life that will come as I embrace the new normal. In Jesus' name, Amen.