“Being Comfortable, with Being Uncomfortable”

The Process of Change
“Being Comfortable, with Being Uncomfortable”

Romans 12:2 (Amplified Bible)

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable

and perfect [in His sight for you].

It is so comforting to walk into a room, a work environment, a church, and just say – “now this is me.”  We even say this in terms of things like a new dress or suit we are trying on.  The moment we put it on, see ourselves in it, it just seems like we know.  “This is me, this is right.”  In other words “This Feels Good.”

As humans, it is part of our nature to seek comfort.  As we say, this is me, we are saying this is who I am, this matches where I am right now.  I’ve found that we do the same when it comes to seeking out settings for our spiritual guidance and growth.  When we are seeking a church home or even a place of service within ministry – we look for what feels “comfortable.”  Jesus performed many miracles and touched many lives – and while the end result may have been comfort and joy in those He personally touched, most often, He first took them to a place of discomfort.  He asked a question that made them feel uncomfortable, or in His exalted place as a Prophet of the Most High God, He spoke to them about details of their lives – that only He could haveknown about – through the Holy Ghost.  You know those tiny details, those secrets, those hidden things we don’t share with others.  Certainly, His knowledge of these things, made the people initially “uncomfortable.”  However, in the end, we see people healed, delivered, and set free.  (See scripture references, John 4:1-42 The Woman of Samaria, Mark 7:24-30, The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman)

Jesus is about the business of changing lives by way of transforming our thinking.  Getting to know Him and having an intimate relationship with Him means allowing Him to challenge the way we have been doing things, and thinking about things – our entire lives.  This can be especially difficult, if we’ve begun this process in the latter years of our lives.  It means allowing Him to not only teach us, but to re-teach us things we thought we already knew. 

Truly, it is our flesh that causes us to run and shy away from the things that we really need.  It is that initial pain and discomfort – that if not checked against the reality of Christ and the assurance given in His word, “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 – that will forever keep us in the place where we are now.  Let’s face it – who we are now, is not who we were created to be, but it is the sum total of who we were created to be plus – our life experiences.  Many of us have faced many troubling life experiences and made many questionable choices in the past, so as we calculate this total – our troubles in life may far out-weigh our God experiences and God transforming moments.   

So, we need more God Moments.  We’ve got to be aware – if our workplace, if our relationships, if our church family and Pastor – all make us feel “comfortable” where we are now, what or who will draw us to a higher place, to our destiny? What or who will cause us to grow?  We need more – more than who we are, more than where we are, to take us to where we are supposed to be.

Your task for the day!  Look around, and list the things you’ve been running away from lately.  Could it be you are looking for comfort, when God is trying to take you to that uncomfortable place of change and growth?   (That you prayed and asked Him for!) Identify at least one thing – that while uncomfortable – is one thing you can honestly say you need in your life.  Ask God for the courage and strength to grab a hold of that one thing, embrace it, until God finishes using it to work its perfect work in your life.

And for those of us who are in an uncomfortable place at this moment, rather than groaning and complaining, we should be Praising God, for we are right in the center of His will!

Copyright 2011 - Victoria L. Burse 

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