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Get Uncomfortable!


I'm going to guess that each of us have a Sunday routine. You probably have a church service you prefer to attend. You may go out to brunch after service. Or maybe it is your cheat day and you allow yourself to indulge with the donuts at church. You probably have a preference as to where you sit in church. It may be the exact same location each week. Possibly, you are a little more general in your planning. Just like school, some of us are back sitters and others prefer the front of the class. I am sure there are some who would like to be in the middle of things, too.  

My point is we like to be comfortable. We have certain preferences and when those preferences are met, we enjoy comfort. Comfort provides us with calm and peace. Being comfortable feels good. 

Jesus knew that comfort could be the enemy of growth. When the apostles got too comfortable, Jesus shook things up. He took them out on a boat. Many of His disciples were fishermen. A boat was a place they had been before. A comfortable place. They had great command of boats because of their profession.  

As they were out a large storm came and created massive waves. The apostles became fearful that the boat would capsize. Jesus had fallen asleep during this journey. Fearful for their lives, "The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!'" (Matt 8:25).
We like to be comfortable. There is safety in comfort. There is strength in comfort. 

Maybe they had become comfortable with watching Jesus do miraculous things. Maybe they needed to get uncomfortable to remember that God had given them the skills needed to safely guide the ship through the storm. Maybe they had gotten so comfortable with watching Jesus do miraculous things that they forgot He was the Messiah. Even in his sleep, He was present and would protect them.

I think they needed to get uncomfortable so they could grow. When Jesus woke up He said “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” (Mat 8:26). The safety and comfort of their comfortableness exposed their need to grow. God grows us in those uncomfortable situations. He uses those moments to remind us how much we need Him. I think He uses them also, to remind us of how He has prepared us to face that moment and how we are never alone. He is always with us.

Where is God calling you to get uncomfortable? Is it by sitting in a different row and meeting new people at church? Is it a nudge to plug in with one of the amazing ministries we partner with? Is it a calling to support Renaissance Church in their upcoming launch? Maybe you are being challenged to stretch that budget and give 10%. Wherever God is pushing you out of comfort and into uncomfortableness, embrace the growth He is doing in you. 

Be blessed and be a blessing,
Matt

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