Reset

COVID-19 has upended everything. Lost jobs, lost income, nerve-racking uncertainty, confinement, and on and on and on. So naturally, there is a rising drumbeat of voices wanting to return to “normal.” But what kind of “normal” are you looking for?

After Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter wanted to return to normal. Prior to encountering Jesus, he had been a fisherman. After Jesus said, “Come. Follow me,” (Matthew 4:19), his life was upended. Everything changed. Instead of fishing, Peter witnessed and participated in numerous miracles for three years, like helping feed thousands of hungry people with limited supplies, and walking on water (Matthew 14:13-33).

Yet, after Jesus died and his world was upended again, Peter seemingly felt pulled to return to something he was comfortable with – fishing. So, he and two other disciples went fishing. But that return to “normal” only produced frustration since they caught nothing all night long (John 21:3).

And then Jesus spoke with Peter on the beach the following morning, changing and resetting his life yet again.

During this pandemic, everybody’s “normal” has been upended. But when it slows and we emerge (which we will eventually), do you really want to return to whatever “normal” used to be for you? With the reset button pushed for everyone simultaneously, this is our chance to reconsider our lives.

Pre-pandemic, were you involved in activities or relationships that were beneficial or harmful? Were you serving, or just consuming? Were you seeking out ways to help, or waiting to be served? Were you empty, or filled with purpose? Whether in our families, relationships, jobs, neighborhoods, towns or country, what are the opportunities for change going forward?

Especially spiritually. Hopefully in this time of crisis, we’ve drawn closer to God. There’s been more time for Bible study, prayer and developing creative ways to help others. Hopefully, we’ve been developing those spiritual habits that will carry us into the future stronger and more secure in our faith, because now is the time to act and to move from being stagnant to productive, from being unfruitful to fruitful, from focusing on ourselves to glorifying the One who made us.

That’s what Peter did after his conversation with Jesus on the beach. Although Peter seemed to struggle while trying to make sense of the upheaval in his life after Jesus died, Jesus gave him direction for his future. A future that had him preaching to thousands (Acts 2:14-41), healing the lame (Acts 3:1-10), making two miraculous escapes form prison (Acts 5:17-32 and 12:1-19), empowering a paralyzed man to walk (Acts 9:32-35), and raising a dead woman to life (Acts 9:36-41). None of which would have happened if he had returned to fishing. None of which would have happened without Jesus’ direction. Peter tried to go back to his version of “normal,” and ended up empty-handed and frustrated.

Maybe the question for us coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic is not, “How do I return to normal.”

Maybe our question should be, “What does Jesus want my new normal to be?”