Uncomfortable.
This is not a word that brings me great joy. Not even a smidgen of joy. I think of a pain in my shoulder, a sliver in my finger, a sinus headache, tight shoes that have cut into the back of my ankle ... or a slew of other things. Uncomfortable is not what I aspire to. And it's definitely not what comes to mind when I think about God or Worship. Yet, I think this is where God wants us – at least some of the time. And I'm not just talking about physical discomfort.
When we are comfortable, operating in our "zone," we are not necessarily reaching beyond ourselves. We remain in a trusted circle of friends, family, places, or events where we find much gratification. We resist the unknown. Yet, when we test our bravery, being courageous enough to step outside our "bubble," great things happen. Now, I don’t mean great, as in better than good; I mean great as in awesome, powerful, or spectacular – those terms in their good and bad connotations.
When we step outside our safety zone, we lean on God more. Or maybe, we realize we need to lean on God, Period. Maybe we realize that we weren't leaning on God at all inside the bubble and doing it all on our own. When we venture beyond, we must trust that God holds us - that He gives us a “force field” to protect us. We must lean “not on our own understanding.”
Uncomfortable. That’s where God wants us – at least some of the time. Are you uncomfortable?
AMEN! I think that is exactly what God wants for us. I think I was "comfortable" in my job and the job security that I thought I had. Then last May I lost that "comfort". Although I'm still technically "employed" I currently work only 1-5 hours a week unless there is a big project that I'm needed for. And although the financially security is now not what it was, I take comfort in knowing that God will provide. And He has. He has allowed me to start a business with my colleague who also suffered the same fate and so neither of us are working that 40-hour-week, but we do at least have some income. And by NOT working 40-hours, it has definitely afforded us MORE time with our families which is what I had longed for. God has a way of granting our prayers, but it is not always in the way "we" think that He should. He has worked in me and really turned on the "mothering" function and my focus has changed in this past year. I thank God for the "uncomfortable-ness" that I've experienced. It's been a growing/learning season for me. :)
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