Not Called for Comfort

“The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” Psalm 34:19 NIV.

I remember gazing in the depth of my thoughts, sitting across from what is now an obsolete white and giant rear computer monitor, lodging on top of an old white hard drive with a floppy disk slot. [Flashback: A glorious computer-internet era if you happened to own one of these heavy hunchback computers or were privileged enough to use one on university campus]. Struggling with a science presentation, I had to present it to my professor and peers. I am chosen and called God’s child to do great works; this presentation most certainly should be easy, I envisioned. My thoughts quickly thundered through scriptural references summoning God from his Holy Heaven to earth, and by his Saving Grace, made it all go away. For example, God promised never to leave me (Deuteronomy 31:6). He has the whole world in his hands (the famous Sunday school song; Psalm 24:1-2). He will not give me more than I can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). The fear, anxiety and lack of confidence that crippled my bones, or perhaps making a mistake, looking foolish and seeming unintelligent (standing in front of my peers) were far from being easy. What began as a stage fright quickly grew to an emotional and mental toll that only Christ could heal.

The message of the Gospel I had received in my early years was, with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:23-30). A statement so profound and biblically true; an expression of life with God, yet a conundrum of the reality I’d experienced. Not dismissing the all-encompassing, all-knowing nature and the infinite power of God (Yahweh, Elohim), my tender heart had grasped on the formidable nature of life as “being physically easy.” A life with no trouble. A life with no pain. Saying “yes” to following Jesus means being happy all the time. No struggles, no discomfort; after all, He, God, has it all under control. My sorrows are over! I could not be more wrong!

Oddly enough, I was and am not the only one with a misguided understanding of the calling. The body of Christ yearns for some relief. We seek and crave a comfortable life. If only the war ceases, if governments would work together, if citizens would show concern for one another. If only we pray enough, hunger excessively after God’s word. If only we’d keep quiet, not stir the boat, rattle the snake (so to speak), and keep to ourselves. If only! Then, peace will reign (comfort-able people). Comfortable enough to focus on the calling of God in our lives.

However, the calling of God in our lives is not one of physical comfort, rather one that is made up of un-comfortability. Look at the Author and Finisher of our faith, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; nothing about His life was comfortable. His very conception was a contradiction. A pregnant virgin? He came to earth and would be in opposition with law-abiding citizens: sending an adulterous woman free (John 8:1-11), eating with sinners (Mark 2:13-17), healing on the Sabbath (Mark 2:27, 3:1-6, John 5:1-18). Announcing whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (John 14:19) and, while doing the Father’s will, would appear before the Sanhedrin on various vicious offenses. Talk about stirring the boat! He was anything but comfortable. His discomfort was and is the catalyst for our salvation. Jesus had to bear the cross, pave the way for us to obtain mercy, to stand in the presence of the Father. The cross was a victorious expression of love, courage and a death-defying rescue mission (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). A mission that carved a way for you and me to carry out the great commission; go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Psalmist understood this very well. A righteous person, the one who has chosen a path of aligning with God’s word, will have many troubles (Psalm 34:19). Troubles that are not ours to bear, although experienced. God promises us comfort. The key verse is explicit in the kind of comfort God provides for us. “…he delivers us from all our troubles“. This means we are comforted in every trial we face. David said, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me, your rod and staff they comfort me, (Psalm 23:4)”. Being comforted is not the same as being comfortable. The discomfort of life produces the necessary growth and maturity needed to make disciples and share the Good News of what Jesus has done for us. Live a life that points others to Christ.

Scripture offers insight into the resulting power of an uncomfortable life. Esther’s discomfort led an orphan to triumphantly rescue a Jewish nation by breaking her silence (Esther 4:14). Noah’s discomfort was being a ridiculous man building an ark without rainfall, which led him to be the Father of a restored nation. As an inexperienced shepherd boy, David’s discomfort resulted in his unmatched sling-shot skills, used in slaying down a giant and becoming a man after God’s heart. These all had one thing in common, while the discomfort built them up, it was God’s comfort that strengthened them.

We are called to be alert and sober-minded because we have an adversary, roaring like a lion seeking whom to devour (1 Peter 5:8). We have to fix our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Then, we will have the strength and courage to endure whatever comes our way, no matter how uncomfortable it may become. Discomfort builds in us the fruits of patience and humility.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting Father, by the power of the Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom to live in patience and love without hunger for any physical comfort. Enable my understanding to take comfort only in you. In Jesus Name…Amen