Give Me the Usual
In a sunny little café in Wyoming, a group of retired guys sitting in a booth got the latest scoop from the favorite waitress’ children and their school activities. Making eye contact with each, she said, “You want the usual?” With a nod, she walked to the kitchen to get their orders started.
We are truly creatures of habit. Though the food was likely good, part of what made their morning feel good was the familiar. Friends, a familiar face taking their order, and their favorite breakfast started their day well. A morning coffee and a hassle-free day is what we want. It is comforting.
However, there are times when change interrupts. The lives of the Israelites were disrupted when they were plucked from Egypt and moved to the wilderness. Though they wanted freedom, they longed for the familiar….fish, cucumbers, leeks, and onions (Numbers 11). They were willing to trade their promised freedom to return to the familiar, even when God had assured them of the land of plenty. Change was necessary for the Israelites to enjoy God’s promises for them. They had to let go of what they had to embrace a new thing.
We think their response was extreme but how different are we? The recent pandemic upended our lives in the most basic of ways. Eating inside a restaurant, knowing the grocery will have what we need when we shop, going out for the evening, or even going to a church to worship was stopped by an unexpected and unseen enemy. These changes weren’t our idea, but God was and is still God in the midst of it. In Isaiah 43:19 (CEB), the scripture says, “Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up, don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.” Our new normal isn’t what was, but we can embrace the moment knowing that regardless of life’s circumstances, God will make a way.
Malachi 3:6 (CEB) says, “I am the Lord, and I do not change…” While everything else in our world feels unsure, we can be certain of God’s promises. Trust in the Lord who never changes. He is our Waymaker. God’s highest and best is still His promise to all who trust in Him.
– TH –