It was easy singing a song like that when we lived in France, untethered to security, constantly facing distress and out-of-the-box trials. We left everything comfortable. But now I live in Texas with a church on every corner, attending an amazing, vibrant church. I have good friends, great kids, a terrific husband. And it all seems so easy.
I'm afraid to say the word "easy" out loud, though. It's like I'm inviting trouble, isn't it? Because even if life feels navigatable, God is always at work on the inner landscape of stubborn hearts, isn't He? Though I do feel like I could choose to put myself out there, away from comfort more often--in those places where I can't depend on my wherewithal.
It's like my workout plans in 2009, which consisted of one thing: jogging. I wondered why it didn't help, why I didn't lose the weight I'd gained back in Texas. Well, the sad truth is this: I'm far too easy on myself. When I got winded, I slowed down. When I hurt, I desisted.
Now that I have a trainer for a few more sessions, I see my tendency to embrace comfort over exertion. She pushes me way beyond where I'd push myself, and I'm finally seeing results. It's that way in the spiritual life. The Holy Spirit pushes us out of the nest of our comfortable spot, pushes us to fly on fickle winds. We have a choice. To fly or to cling to the nest.
Going through the motions is clinging to the nest. It's making an idol out of comfort rather than living for the glory of God.
I don't want to go through the motions! But I do want to go through motions!
Lord, help me to heed You when You push me outside that which is comfortable to me. Help me to feel the weight of Your push, the dread of the air beneath me, the power of Your wings to help me soar in unknown places. I don't want to embrace complacency. I want to trust You with risk, with daring to live for You even when it hurts. Rejuvenate my desires. Lift them above comfort to conforming to Your will. I choose You, Lord. Wherever You lead is where I want to go.
12 comments:
Mary,
I also don't want to go through the motions...although I do like the "feel" of being comfortable:)
God has been really stretching me and growing me this past year...I still have to fight away bad thoughts...which is a daily fight.
I am still reading my Bible....It has taken me two years to read the Bible all the way through I am now on Matthew...I want to soak up each chapter and I don't want to rush through what I might be needing to learn.
Looking forward to what God has for you and your family this New Year!
Renee
"Make and idol of comfort" - I'm guilty of that. It's so easy to do.
Comfort is surely everyone's biggest temptation. It's simply making oneself feel good with the least amount of effort. Porn. Alcoholism. Excessive spending. Laziness. Gluttony. I think comfort is synonymous with selfishness, and self is the root of all sin. God has called me out of my comfort zone, but there are many days that I do not want to go. It's too hard. It's easier to watch the world suffer, than to suffer for the world. A sad confession from a sinful heart. You got me today, Mary, as always.
"making an idol out of comfort" - yep, that's pretty convicting.
To the core, this message has hit. I have been praying about direction for me, my ministry and my class members. Where does He want us to go? What can we do? You know, the basic stuff ;).
This morning as I was driving in this was the "theme" of what I sense Him saying to me. Are we willing to lay it all down for Him? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone and really get to know Him? Is maybe our lack of zeal and desire because we are chosing our own way and nothing even remotely close to His? Are we just too comfortable?
I asked my class to write down their prayer requests that maybe they wouldn't want to share with everyone or even have me know who was requesting what. One lady said she just wanted the desire to want to know Him more. How real is that?
I think I'll share your post and your prayer with them. Thank you, Father, for giving Mary the words I couldn't seem to find.
"take me all the way..."
Yeah, Cindy! Love that part. Cathy, that's great to hear the message may be spread. Thanks.
Mary, I think my idol is comfort and ease. But I too want to soar. Thanks for the nudge towards the daring zone.
It wasn't until this last year that I accepted that pain is good for me. I used to resist it with all my might. Life is a battle, but facing the battle can give us the sweetest peace. Thank you for this post, Mary.
Mary -- I'm so glad I found your blog! Over the last couple of months I have been reading your book, "Ordinary Mom, Extraordinary God" and have been so blessed by your insights. Just this morning I wrote down on a notecard part of a prayer you wrote (p 152): "How selfish I am, Lord. How often I think that...eliminating pain from my life is the means to happiness. ...I want to give everything I am to You, particularly as I languish in motherhood. ...Teach me to live for eternity."
This is exactly where I'm at... languishing in motherhood (I have two young, active boys)... and I often catch myself worshiping the god of Convenience or the god of Easy. I like easy! Who doesn't like easy?! But as you mentioned in this post -- the Spirit (like a personal trainer) pushes us beyond where we'd push ourselves. My life is "uncomfortable" a lot of the time -- in my role as a mom there is a significant amount of self-sacrifice! -- but I desperately want to live God's way -- to have joy in the daily grind -- to live with eternity in mind! -- to not resent the things that infringe on what I *think* is MY time... blah blah blah... you get the picture.
Thank you for "spurring us on" with your blog -- your realness is encouraging and refreshing!
Sara,
Thanks for your amazing, kind note! I'm so glad you are enjoying the book. You're in the trenches of motherhood right now, and it seems like things won't change. But they will. Keep finding joy in the journey.
WIth joy,
Mary
Karen, I feel that way too.
Denise, that's a good place to get to, but hard!
Post a Comment