Comfort and Discomfort

 

Comfort and Discomfort

 

Comfort and discomfort are distractions from doing the Will of GOD! The reality is that when we are comfortable or uncomfortable we think more about our situation then we do about The Will of GOD and what we should be doing right now. That is the point that JESUS makes in the section in the Sermon on the Mount when He is says that if we seek GOD first and His Righteousness then He will provide all that we need in our natural life. And when He was talking about being The Good Shepherd and giving us life in abundance – when we know and follow His voice! That is what GOD has said to humanity from the very beginning – obey Him and He will take care of us.

 

The problem is not in GOD taking care of us, it’s in us telling GOD what we need and want rather than thanking Him for what He gives us. (Study Exodus and 1 Corinthians 10:1-22) The writers of the New Testament understood this and they taught us that we should rejoice in our troubles, trials, tests and tribulations, even our temptations; because these bring His greatest blessings, maturity, growth, trust and provision. Also in The Beatitudes JESUS said we should rejoice when we are persecuted for His Name’s sake.

 

In Proverbs 30:7-9, Agur puts it plainly to The LORD, “Two things I request of You (deprive me not before I die): remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty not riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is The LORD?’ Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane The Name of my GOD.” GOD actually commanded that to the Israelites in The Law, “…When you have eaten and are full then you shall bless The LROD your GOD for the good land He has given you. Beware that you do not forget The LORD your GOD by not keeping His Commandments, His Judgments, and His Statutes which I command you today, lest – when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; and when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied,  and all you have is multiplied, when you heart is lifted up, and you forget The LORD your GOD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;…then you shall say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth’…” study Deuteronomy 8.

 

It is human nature to avoid what is uncomfortable, it is also human nature to be so comfortable that we forget to obey GOD; because we do not like what His Will is for us. Many of us have missed GOD because we did not want to do what He called us to do, myself included; but if we ask Him to forgive us He is faithful and just to forgive us. Paul said he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content; I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Philippians 4:11-12 Hebrews 13:5 tells us, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

 

Being uncomfortable is not a sign of GOD’s displeasure, it is most likely a sign of our disobedience; it could be the result of something that we said or did, did not do or say. It could be the result of some past behaviour of ours of someone else. It could be a trial, test, temptation or tribulation. Whatever the cause of our discomfort we must learn to be thankful for GOD’s provision and comfort, His peace in the midst knowing that He is working His Will in us to do His good pleasure.

 

Study Jabez’ prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, David’s prayer in Psalm 27:4-5 and the prayer JESUS taught us in Matthew 6:9-13.

 

Be obedient and seek The LORD first even when we are comfortable and uncomfortable! Discomfort causes us to complain and expect and being too comfortable causes us to be content and not what anything to change. Be careful, “Trust in The LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your way acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6