Don't Get Too Comfortable

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”
Hebrews 11:39-40

I’d been having a discussion in my heart and mind with God over what helps grow our trust and faith in him. There are of course a number of things – worship, obedience, being in relationship with others who are living life following Jesus and living actively in the world but in a way that is so different that others notice. But I kept coming back to one thing more than all the others, that idea that God grows us by making us uncomfortable.

The passage above comes at the end of a list of Old Testament people who are commended for their faith. Even though things happened in their lives as they followed after God that prevented them from fully experiencing what God had promised them – they had remained faithful. As I looked at this list and thought not only of the people listed but also other Old Testament people and New Testament people whose faith can be commended, I found a common thread of faith building – many, if not all of them had been called out of their places of comfort to be part of God’s bigger and better plan for mankind.

Noah was asked to build a giant ship, a ship that would allow mankind to live on after the flood. Abraham was told to leave his family behind and follow God to a land God would show him and then be asked to sacrifice his beloved son, so that the nation God was going to build would have a place to live and to be an example for what faithful obedience looks like. Joseph must have been comfortable as the bratty younger brother who was “dad’s favorite” until his brothers sold him into slavery, that would eventually allow Joseph to keep them alive in the midst of famine. I am guessing Moses had gotten comfortable with being a shepherd when God spoke to him from a blazing bush and told to go and lead His people – a people that were comfortable in their bondage - out of Egypt. What about Ruth, having left the comfort of her land and family to stay with Naomi and be found in the line of David. How about Esther, was she comfortable in her life, before she was queen and risked her life to save her people? Many of the disciples left the comfort of their trades and families to follow after Jesus and become world changers. Even Jesus – can you imagine what comfort the Father called him out of, so He could come and die for us?

Leaving California and the comfort of family and friends to go to a new place was hard, but the faith building was amazing. Standing on the platform to preach and teach the Word of God – way out of my comfort zone, also great for faith building though. I was asked after having done that several times, if I was getting more comfortable with it. After thinking about the answer to that question, I responded that I wasn’t sure it was a good thing to get comfortable with it, because it is too important a thing to take for granted – which is something we human are inclined to do when we get comfortable in life – take things for granted that is.

A day may come when others will commend us for our faith, recognizing that even we hadn’t fully received the promise yet. That will come some day when all of us who call Jesus Lord, will be in his presence.

Until then - don’t get too comfortable, He wants to build a Christ like character in you and He will make you uncomfortable to do it.

A Prayer
Father – You know how we humans are so inclined to live comfortably, so comfortably that we take each other, our stuff, our faith and You for granted. Saying thank you for the times that you pull us out of our comfort zone, to build our faith and grow our character is hard, but may we thank you with everything in us as your grow us into the people you planned for us to be from the beginning. As we live out our faith outside our comfort zones may those around us recognize You in our lives and allow their hearts to answer Your call to them. In the name of Jesus, who calls us out of our comfort zones – Amen.

Can I Get a Witness?

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. Awake, my soul! Awake harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.”
Psalm 57:7-11

In my experience I have found that when things are going well – it is easy to praise the Lord. Can I get a witness? When things start going wrong, when the storm clouds of life begin to gather, when life seems to have lost the plot leading to the happily ever after – praising the Lord gets difficult. More difficult that getting angry, than questioning His faithfulness, than turning away. Can I get a witness?

In the course of less than 24 hours I learned that someone I care about had gotten a cancer diagnosis and that another person I care about was waiting to see if that diagnosis was headed their way and then that a new friend’s mother had just gotten the big C battle added to her life. Add to that a faraway friend who had just finished gaining a second victory over that insidious disease and someone I work with is waging all-out war on it. I was doing some questioning of God myself. Can I get a witness?

Then my heart drew my mind to David – Shepherd King and how in the midst of the many battles he found himself in he would find a way to praise God. Oh he would cry out in fear, he would ask God to destroy his enemies in no uncertain terms, he would lie on his face consumed by the guilt of his own failings, his own sin and then he would praise God. That’s what is going on in Psalm 57. David cries out for protections and deliverance and then praises God so that the whole world would know how great his God is. Wonder if David asked – can I get a witness?

Paul is another one who was good at praising God even as he questioned why he couldn’t go where he wanted to go, why God wouldn’t take the thorn from him? It was to remind Paul and us that God’s divine strength give us the greatest power when we are at our weakest, lowest points. It is to remind us that God grace, mercy and love are sufficient for whatever we are facing. I wonder if Paul ever asked – Can I get a witness?

Where are you today? Praising God because the sky is blue and there is nothing but smooth sailing in your life. Can I get a witness? I’ll celebrate that with you. Maybe life isn’t so great right now, and being angry at God is way easier than praising Him is. Can I get a witness? I’ll be praying for you in that. Maybe the storm has passed and you have found Him to be faithful, that His strength was enough and even though you were angry and questioning you have found your heart steadfast and ready to raise the roof singing praise to God. Can I get a witness? I’ll sing with you.

Can I get a witness?

A Prayer
Father – you are so patient with us. You put up with our lack of faith because you love us so much. You let us throw our little tantrums and then you show us that when we are at our weakest Your divine power will make us stronger than we realize. Help us to live our lives in such a way that even in the midst of the worst of life’s storms our hearts will be steadfast and so much so that we are indeed a witness to your power, love, mercy and grace. May our witness show those around us that what you have done for us you will do for them too. In the name of Jesus – Amen.