We have a refrigerator that is designed to dispense water, cubed ice, and crushed ice. One day, when I pushed the button for cubed ice, crushed ice came out. Since the refrigerator was still under warranty, we called for service and they came out and fixed it. However the problem happened again. This time, the refrigerator was no longer under warranty. Instead of paying for the service call, we decided that we could live without cubed ice and that if we really needed cubed ice, we would just open the freezer and get it out of the dispenser. For months and months the button on our ice dispenser would indicate cubed ice, but give us crushed ice.
Then one day last month, then I pushed the cubed ice button and cubed ice came out. For the last few weeks, the refrigerators has been functioning as designed. Interestingly, for the first week or so after it started working properly, I kept expecting crushed ice to come out of the cubed ice dispenser. I had been exposed to the refrigerator not working properly for so long, that it was strange to me when it functioned as designed.
The same thing can be said about our lives. We can normalize dysfunction. It can become such an expectation that healthy seems strange. And while we may have adjusted to the dysfunction and no longer see it as strange, those on the outside don’t. They see us operating in a way in which we were not designed to function.
The good news is that God’s word teaches us how to function as designed. God’s warranty on us never expires. His help is always available. The transforming power of His Holy Spirit is continually at work in us. Transformation may not feel comfortable at first. There will be the temptation of returning to unhealthy patterns and behaviors. Don’t fret or fear. Don’t give up on what is working. Eventually, healthy will feel normal as you continue to function as God designed and desires.
Then one day last month, then I pushed the cubed ice button and cubed ice came out. For the last few weeks, the refrigerators has been functioning as designed. Interestingly, for the first week or so after it started working properly, I kept expecting crushed ice to come out of the cubed ice dispenser. I had been exposed to the refrigerator not working properly for so long, that it was strange to me when it functioned as designed.
The same thing can be said about our lives. We can normalize dysfunction. It can become such an expectation that healthy seems strange. And while we may have adjusted to the dysfunction and no longer see it as strange, those on the outside don’t. They see us operating in a way in which we were not designed to function.
The good news is that God’s word teaches us how to function as designed. God’s warranty on us never expires. His help is always available. The transforming power of His Holy Spirit is continually at work in us. Transformation may not feel comfortable at first. There will be the temptation of returning to unhealthy patterns and behaviors. Don’t fret or fear. Don’t give up on what is working. Eventually, healthy will feel normal as you continue to function as God designed and desires.
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