April 2023
Last weekend, I did something unusual for me. I was out of town for Spring break and due to limited choices and seasonal travelers, I booked a 9:30 pm return flight to Phoenix. A 9:30 pm Saturday flight is way out of my norm – I am usually in bed and sound asleep by 8:30 pm.
Guess what? It was the best flying experience I’ve had in years. The airport was nearly empty, I breezed through security, the flight was on time, people were smiling all around me, and the plane was only half full. It was like flying pre-911. Nice!
In Tom’s last few years, he used to say his besetting sin was comfort. Tom loved his routines and his uncomplicated, no-drama life. Tom’s typical day included a cup or two of Keurig coffee, a big TV, and a cozy chair. Tom was as snug as a bug in a rug. He could do “nothing” like no other.
Tom rubbed off on me. As I look around, I see ease and comfort. My beautiful home requires very little attention. I have a Roomba that does the vacuuming, a Keurig to make my coffee, a microwave that cooks instantaneous meals (or well, you get it), an HVAC system to keep me warm or cool, landscapers to blow the dust and leaves away, a car to get me where I need to be, and the list goes on. In other words, I live a life of luxury.
Some may say I am stuck in a rut. Perhaps my controlled life has me sidestepping God’s best for me. Maybe a little discomfort would be good?!?!
A decade ago, Tom did a lesson entitled, “Suffer to Worship”, as part of his 1 Peter series. As I segue to suffering, you may wonder what this has to do with comfort. Good question! In this lesson, Tom teaches how God uses everyday things, including the normal wear and tear of life, to strengthen and draw us to Him.
Sometimes we like our chains of comfort and control. Sometimes we even like our pain. Sometimes we convince ourselves that the life we know is the way it should or has to be. As we hang tight to what we know, we miss the opportunity for something else. And that something else may be God’s best.
I fear that too often, we refuse to allow God to change us. Within Tom’s “Suffer to Worship” lesson, he mentions the invalid man in the book of John, Chapter 5. In verse John 5:6, Jesus asks this man, “Do you want to be healed?”
This is a legitimate question.
How about you? Do you honestly want to draw closer to God? Do you want your negative circumstances to change? Do you want to let God in to make His changes?
Here are a few things to consider:
As you feed your need for comfort, what are you missing out on? Take a few minutes to think about how your comfort has put you in a rut.
Are pain and hardships your way of life? Are you holding on to your suffering (please know I am not minimizing your pain) instead of allowing God’s peace to transform you
Too busy? Has “busy” become your new identity? How about becoming un-busy and making time for family, friends, and most importantly, God?
Lonely? I bet your neighbor, coworker or friend could use some encouragement. Pick up the phone, knock on a door, and reflect Jesus’ love, care, and concern to those around you.
I don’t know about you, but it is time for me to step out of my controlled environment, my routines, and ruts, and shake things up a bit. God has a lot to show me, and I know His best is always better than anything I can imagine.