Beyond My Comfort Zone
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNEhKLrsUfo]
The last few months have been really interesting for me. I’m not generally a person who finds myself in situations where I’m completely out of my element and yet over the past few months, that’s exactly where I’ve been. Now, to be clear, this is a GOOD thing. In many, many ways this is an answer to a long-standing prayer of mine. What I find interesting about it, though, is that it’s shown me just how much I tend to rely on myself instead of God.
Now that I have been forced out of my comfort zone and into this new adventure, I find that I’ve never felt more certain of who I am and Whose I am. See, I spent many, many years doing the safe thing. To know me well is to know that I don’t break the rules, I don’t rock the boat, I toe the party line. I don’t do anything that could put me in jeopardy, both physically and emotionally. But this time, when presented with the opportunity, I took a chance. I stepped out on a ledge and took a leap of faith, and it has been such a joy! Do I know what’s going to happen? No. Is this absolutely safe? Not a chance. But I have so much peace and joy in my heart, in spite of all the unknowns.
This is probably pretty convoluted for all of you, I’m sure. I’m sure you’re all wondering, “What on earth is she talking about?” Well, I’m not going to tell you the details. So there. But I will get to the point. And here it is:
God is not safe. God is not easy. God is not tame. He is wild and difficult and dangerous. When we try to force our relationship with Him to be safe and easy and mild, we never really experience God. When we stay where it’s safe, we never get to experience the rush that comes from base jumping into the unknown while all the while being held safely in the center of His heart. It’s amazing to know that no matter how far I step out into the unknown, as long as I am following God’s lead, I will be safe. It doesn’t mean it will be easy. It doesn’t mean that I won’t be in peril. It doesn’t mean that all will end well. It means that no external force can separate us from God. “I’m absolutely convinced that nothing–nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable–absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” (Romans 8:38-39 MSG)
So here’s my conclusion. I’m tired of sitting in the boat. I’m tired of playing it safe. So now I’m “giving in to Your gravity, knowing You are holding me. I’m not afraid.” And I couldn’t be happier.