“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Japan has been rocked with earthquakes and a devastating tsunami. Aftershocks continue and the threat of nuclear radiation widens. Life will never be the same for some. Our prayers continue for the Japanese people as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
Illness and health issues shake our world. Any snippets of energy, strength, and pain-free moments are relished. Much like the aftershocks of an earthquake, chronic illness too has a fallout.
I have friends who have been termed chronic, inoperable, and even given a time-frame for their demise. Everyone around them is affected. The clock ticks and every ache and pain causes worry and concern. Has the cancer returned? Has the blood disease progressed? How much time do I have?
Everything changes. Nothing is the same. What happened to normal?
I’ve decided life is about accepting the new normal. Not looking back at what might have been, or what was lost, but looking forward. This verse made me stop and think, “. . .to accept your lot in life- that indeed is a gift from God. People who do this rarely look with sorrow on the past, for God has given them reasons for joy.” (Ecclesiastes 5:19-20).
God is a God of new creations and fresh hope. I can contemplate who I was, the energy and strength I had, or remember that God promises to give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. He chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong.*
We can look forward knowing that weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.* I rest knowing in the new normal, God grants His strength and joy.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to look to You. Not look back at what was lost, but keep my eyes focused on You – the giver of Joy.
*(Isaiah 40:29, 1 Corinthians 1:27, Psalm 30:5)
About the Author:
Lisa Buffaloe is a madly in love with God, Christ-follower, happily-married, mom, writer/blogger/speaker. God has helped her through molestation by a baby-sitter, assault, rape, divorce, cancer, death, seven surgeries, and years of chronic illness due to Lyme Disease. For more information, please visit www.LisaBuffaloe.com
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Lisa: This reminds me of the verse that says, “Godlness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6). The further I go along the path of my life the more truth I see in this. And it CAN be learned, as Paul said he learned, in Phil. 4:11, “I have LEARNED in whatever state I am, to be content.”
This is not an easy lesson and sometimes seems impossible. But I think you’ve hit the nail on the head by saying how helpful it is to live in today. I’ve certainly found that it’s when I obsess about the past or the future, that my joy and peace disappear.
I do think there’s a time to look back, if we’re working through a forgiveness and healing issue. Also to see how God has helped us get through things in the past. And a time when we must, with God’s guidance, make some plans for the future. But today is all God gives us the grace for and it will be sufficient.
Great points, Beth. How grateful I am for a God who will walk with us through the past to heal, and lead us forward in the future with Him. And as you so aptly stated, every day His grace is sufficient.
Blessings to you!
Good to hear back from you Lisa. We are so blessed with a God like ours, who loves us dearly, has a special plan for each of us and who provides what we need as we follow it through.
Grace and peace to you.