The New-New

“New-new” means first time new. You didn’t just buy a new jacket, you purchased your first leather jacket. You didn’t just have a child, you had your first child, which makes you a new-new mother. Your first full-time job after college isn’t the same as your previous jobs, now you’re a new-new working adult. An unfamiliar, new territory, first time new. DOUBLE new.

Growing up requires possessing new-new life territory; completely unfamiliar social scenarios, experiencing lifes’ highs and lows, or reaching a new level of stress!

There’s lots of unknowns that make me uncomfortable, vulnerable, and feel lost on how to handle things. For example, I’m newly engaged! (Woooo!) Another example, I recently attended my first golf outing for work! (Boooo!). Both of them make me feel like a little girl that’s not ready! It’s unknown territory. But it’s territory right in front of me, requiring me to take a next step.

Unfortunately though, we could be faced with the new-new, and choose to not move forward into growing up. I could run away from my relationships when things get scary. I could RSVP no to the golf outing because I’m going to embarrass myself. We could run from motherhood because we don’t know what we’re doing.

When faced with a new-new experience, how do we move forward, believing this is what God wants us to do?

Help for possessing the new-new

Perfection is not required
(Proverbs 26:12)
The Bible is full of story after story of people not being qualified to face the new-new, even though God asked people to move into it! So when you think, “I’ll be so bad at this, I have no idea what I’m doing”, remember that God is the reason we can do it and he equips us to complete what he’s called us to. Moses said he wasn’t able to do it, and God responded “I Am”. Because of His grace, He is easily pleased with you and you’re in safe hands that allow you to fail. When I learned God didn’t want me to get drunk or gossip, it made me nervous for social settings because I didn’t want to fail God. I moved into the new-new, but trust me, I’ve still failed big time. And when I do, God forgives me, reminds me I’m his daughter, and He encourages me to get back up and try again. He sent Jesus because we aren’t perfect, and you were made to lean into that grace.

You’re not alone
(Isaiah 43:2)
You’re feeling like you’re drowning, feeling like life is burning you away. God knows these things are GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU, and he says ‘don’t worry, I am with you.” I remember a few years ago sitting alone on my couch so full of anxiety that I only felt the emptiness of the room. I prayed for God to hug me, and didn’t feel anything. I prayed the next day, and the next day, and the next day. Then finally, I felt that hug, and now I know He’s with me. He is with me when I move into the new-new.

When you move into the new, you can’t let the old stay
(Deuteronomy 7:1-2)
You need to FULLY get rid of the old, and only partner with the new. You can’t say you’re fully invested and continue occasionally dipping a toe back into the old. Truth is truth, and God wants us to move forward into what he’s called us to. For example, when I’m not focused on God’s promises, I suddenly start thinking about past hurts. Past hurts don’t allow me to move forward into the relationship God’s called me to. Once I come to my senses, I have to pause and force myself to look forward at God’s TRUTH over my life. “That person may have hurt me, but we have forgiven each other and now we’re pursuing unity”. Another example may be falling into depression. You must tell yourself “I am not throwing myself a pity party anymore, I am a victor in Christ and I know God is faithful to complete good works in me”.

Stand up and get going!
(Deuteronomy 1:2)
God had the Israelites travel through the hardest area in the desert purposefully to prepare them by strengthening them for war! But after their preparation, they stayed for an additional 40 years, even though it was an 11 day journey. They were SO close, and lots of reasons held them back. I constantly mistake these ‘hardest areas in the desert’ as reasons I’m not qualified to move into the new-new. Today we think easy means qualified, but that’s just not true. GET GOING into your new-new! If God is saying go, then go! Or else we’re gonna take another 40 years.

Grab it, trust it, it’s yours!
(Judges 2:1)
God said its yours to possess, so believe it. When Satan tells you lies, you fight by saying what the Lord promised. When God makes a promise, he will not break it. Sometimes I close my eyes and physically act like I’m giving Jesus something I’m holding onto, and then He gives me what I’m supposed to possess. My hands grab so tightly the promise I’m supposed to have faith in. Before being engaged to my fiancé, I was so scared that he wasn’t going to be the one. God promised me that I would marry him, so I traded fear and grabbed onto that promise, then lived in it.

God is already there
(Jeremiah 29:11)
It’s new-new for you, but it’s not new for God. He knows where he is leading you. It’s safe, it’s prosperous, it’s God’s will for you.

God, thank you for putting a new-new on my heart and preparing me to move forward into your will for my life. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I know that’s okay. I am trusting you with everything I have. I just want to obey you and do your will for my life. I am claiming victory over the promise and expectantly waiting for your blessing! THANK YOU for calling me!