My seven year-old, Max, loves Christian Rap music. And I have to be honest . . . every now and again I find myself playing the Christian Rap playlist that I’ve created for him when I need a little hardcore worship to start my day. Can you picture it? 31-year-old wife and mommy of three, riding down the highway fist pumping, and bobbing my head for Jesus . . . yup. Every now and then that would be me.
Well, the other day I just so happened to be listening to that playlist. A song called “Uncomfortable,” by Andy Mineo, came on during my morning drive to the office. As I listened to the song, I heard a lyric that literally made me sit straight up. The verse caught my attention in such a way that I just had to replay it.
It went a little something like this . . .
So if you wanna live a comfortable life
Make sure you never love nobody, be selfish, and never sacrifice.
Wait . . . what?
There’s nothing like those moments when the Lord makes things so clear and so concise that you just can’t deny what it is that He is trying to convey.
In this particular moment, He chose to use a rap lyric! Look at God!
If you want to live a comfortable life don’t love anyone.
If you want to live a comfortable life be selfish.
If you want to live a comfortable life never sacrifice for anyone or anything.
That’s what comfortable looks like.
All I could think about in that moment was just how many times God has purposely placed me in UNCOMFORTABLE situations.
How many times has He entrusted people to me that required me to learn to love outside of my comfort zone . . . without conditions? How many times has He had to rip things from my hands because I wasn’t ready to willingly surrender them to Him? I thought about all the uncomfortable seasons and scenarios and how He has used all of it for my good. For His Glory.
The truth is friend, God calls us to live an UNCOMFORTABLE life.
Being a believer is not always easy. Following Christ is not always easy. Living radically for His name is hardly ever going to be comfortable, and the truth of the matter is . . . it’s not supposed to be.
Being uncomfortable and suffering for Christ is what we sign up for when we decide to follow Him. Stepping out of our comfort zones and into His will for our lives is what He desires.
It’s in those uncomfortable seasons, those uncomfortable circumstances that He is refining us, making us dependent on Him, perfecting His strength in our weaknesses. Being uncomfortable as a believer means getting a front row seat to see God do some of His best work in our lives and in the lives of others. It means we get to pour into that person that has yet to come to know Him, be a light to someone who has been living in the dark.
Story after story in the Bible, we are reminded of how God positioned His people in uncomfortable situations before positioning them in their purpose.
That day, He kindly brought to my attention that in some areas of my life, I had gotten COMFORTABLE. How easy it is to forget that the God, who hung out with the “least of these”, poured into those who had been forgotten about and loved those who hated Him. He calls me to do the same. No it’s not comfortable but He promises that it’s worth it.
The Apostle Paul put it like this, “ What actually took place is this: . . . So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.” (Galatians 2:20-21 MSG)
Are you in an uncomfortable place today? Lay it at your Papa’s feet. Ask God to use that very uncomfortable circumstance to reveal Himself in a new way to you, to others . . . for His glory.
And then, take comfort in knowing that He doesn’t waste anything. Even our discomfort.
Until Next Time Friend,
Abisha
