“You are normal.” I had just expressed to my friend, after a long tiring day of dealing with motor tics and balance issues, that I “just wanted to be normal.” I don’t know what I was expecting to hear, but that definitely was not it. I wanted to argue, but I knew my friend was trying to be helpful and had experience with their own physical struggles; and we moved on to other topics. But that little sentence kept coming back in the following days, weeks, and months. Every time I thought about “being normal” whether in regard to me or someone else, that response would pop into my head. “You are normal.” Such words of truth! And they were helpful. Slowly, I began to understand the truth of that statement. I began to realize that pretty much everyone who reads this has times that they desperately wish to be “normal.” Maybe it’s not motor and/or vocal tics or balance issues that you wish would be gone so you could be part of the “normal people.” Each of us has our very own unique set of circumstances. Each has their own backstory, their own pain, difficulties, losses, disappointments, and burdens. And so yes, you are different; but also, you are normal. Normal doesn’t mean comfortable. Normal doesn’t mean easy. Normal points out our weaknesses and emphasizes our need. But this state of distress that is common to all of us has some wonderful benefits.
First, distress calls our hearts to seek God. We may try to numb the emptiness and need with various “escape activities.” Some turn to visual entertainment such as video games, movies, tv shows, YouTube, and such like. Others look to forget their difficult situation with ‘comfort food,’ alcohol, or drugs. Still others seek escape through self-inflicted or willingly chosen pain. While you may be able to use these methods to forget your troubles for a time, none of them ultimately offers true relief. One of my favorite verses in Isaiah deals with the replacements we so frequently chose rather than God. It says, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. But if we turn to God, and seek Him with all our heart, He will fill the emptiness in our heart. He will give us peace that goes far beyond our understanding. He will carry our burdens for us and guide our feet through the valley of the shadow of death. He will be with us, and as we walk with Him, we will find joy in His provision and care even in our pain, sorrow, and struggles. God answers the longing that the struggles of normal life put in our heart.
Second, the struggles so common to us all qualify us for a special invitation to come to God. It can be easy for us to think that our situation is too bad or too big for God. Or we think that ‘compared to others’ situations it’s not that bad,’ and that we shouldn’t bother God with such a little thing. But to each of us, this invitation is extended. “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Jesus doesn’t put limitations on His invitation. All who labor, all who are worn down with a heavy burden, all are invited to come. As we go through life, we spend at least some time thinking that we can handle life ourselves. Then come the distresses that make us realize that we really don’t have it all together. We realize we need help. And this verse gives us the reassurance that while our hearts are craving God, God is welcoming us, calling us to find rest in Him.
Third, the distresses and trials we encounter awake in us a desire for a life in which such things never come. What’s so great about that, you might wonder. The awesome thing about this desire is that it can be reality. Pain, suffering, death, and trials are a result of sin in the world. Every one of us is a sinner. We have chosen to do our own thing, to love ourselves, and follow our own rules rather than loving God and following His rules. But God, because of the great love wherewith He loved us, sent His Son, Jesus, to live a sinless life on earth, so that He could die for our sin, taking our penalty and offering us His righteousness. We could never be good enough to be in the presence of holy God, but if we accept Christ’s righteousness by faith in His payment for our sins by His death on the cross, we are able to enter boldly before God and bring our cares to Him. And when our earthly bodies die and we enter eternity, we will be with God, free from sin and all the results of sin that form our ‘normal’ lives here on earth.
Dear friends, take courage. Amid your struggles and heartbreak, remember that you are not alone. Remember that the pain and distress you encounter need not trap you and weigh you down in the mire of depression and self-pity (not to say you will not struggle with such things). But remember that these tdifficulties can be steppingstones to guide you closer to God. Remember that distress and trials can help you see more clearly God’s tender love and provision. And as you long for the day when these trials, weaknesses and sorrows are past, may you believe Jesus’ complete payment for your sins and rejoice in the sure knowledge of being in His glorious presence one day. “For I reckon that the sufferings of this resent time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. But if we hope for what we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:18, 22-23, 25-26).
Hope in truth 