Overcoming Comfort
Key Verses:
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“Then he said to them all: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.’” - Luke 9:23 NIV
Comfort. We all love it. But have you ever thought about what it might be costing you?
Each and everyone of us has our own comfort zone; our job, a relationship we are in, a habit we do, a place—the list could go on and on. We have things or people in our life that act as our physical comfort zone, and we each have our spiritual comfort zone.
On a day-to-day basis, our comfort isn’t a bad thing. But ask yourself: is your comfort keeping you from doing what God has called you to do? Is it keeping you from being who you are called to be? Is your comfort just masking your fear? Fear of failure? Fear of rejection? Maybe being fearless in 2019 means stepping outside of your comfort zone (physically or spiritually) and stepping into the purpose and plan God has for your life.
Jeremiah 29:11 says this “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Often times, the “plans and purposes” God has for us will move us out of our comfort zone; it won’t feel familiar, it’ll be hard at times, it will stretch you—it’s designed this way. We aren’t called to rely on our plan, our comfort, or our strength; we are called to rely on His. We are called to trust God, to depend on Him.
If I look through the Bible, there are numerous accounts of individuals who had to step out of their comfort zone to step into God’s purpose for them. Moses left Egypt; the disciples left everything they once knew to follow Jesus; Abraham left his family, country, and everything he was familiar with to go to the land that God had called him to. All of these examples have one thing in common: they obeyed God and stepped out of their comfort zone and into their purpose. If these individuals would have instead said “Nah, I’m good right where I’m at,” they would have missed out on what God had in store for them.
In 2019, there may be some awkward situations ahead, a task you don’t want to do, a conversation you may dread having, or change calling you to get out of what is familiar—whatever it is, it’ll look different for all of us. It could look like serving on a Sunday, stepping into a new career path, reading your bible consistently, asking a stranger how their day is.
Whatever it may be for you, is God calling you to conquer your comfort?
In 2019, let's step out in obedience, step out in faith, and step out in fearlessness.
Our Prayer:
Lord, let our comfort not serve as a mask for our fear. Let it not shackle us from doing what it it is You have called us to do. Remind us of examples of fearlessness in the face of comfort found in your Word, of Abraham, of your early disciples, of Moses. Obedience may require discomfort, and discomfort will require being fearless. In your name we pray, amen!