Dealing with the uncomfortable

 

This is Lucy. Lucy is our second schnauzer who we adopted about a year ago. She is ORNERY! (If you don't speak southern, that means she's a mess! Always getting into trouble!) She's also a walking set of illustrations for life, and I'll share one of those stories in my new book coming uot this fall, How Can I Possibly Forgive? Rescuing Your Heart from Resentment and Regret.

This is Lucy's bed that came with her and is a whole lot smaller than she is now, but she LOVES it. It's her spot, her safe place, where she goes when she wants to be comfortable despite the fact she's technically outgrown it.

Every time I see her in it, I take a picture because it just makes me laugh at how she loves that little bed when she has to scrunch up just so in order to fit into it.

Her insistence in staying in something so little because it's familiar also makes me think about how we do that in life. Have you ever been in a season in your life - maybe in your job, maybe at church, in a situation with friends - where you know God's telling you to move, to change, to try something new, to step out and lead or walk in a brand new direction?

You know He's telling you, but you still hesitate, you still resist, you sorta just stand there in place hoping God doesn't really mean you, because if you're honest, you really like where you are, right now. Ever been there?

My husband and I are going to be starting and co-teaching a brand new Sunday school class in our church beginning one week from tomorrow. We're excited to see what God does with this group, but as the time gets closer, the realization of what's happening is starting to set in.

This afternoon, we're going to a crawfish boil with the class we've been in since we moved back to our hometown, and it suddenly hit how hard this will actually be. Because if I'm honest, we feel comfortable in the class we're in. Our friends are there, we like our teachers, we've enjoyed the fellowship and community with the other couples.

So stepping out to lead another class isn't easy. We won't know everyone who comes.. at least at first. We'll have to feel our way with those who join us in how things are set up, how our class will look, what our class needs will be.

But God never calls us to be comfortable - He does ask us to be available, and it's through our willingness to be available that His incredible hand shiens - His purpose becomes obvious - His will is confirmed.

So I share this with you for a couple of reasons - first, as we step out in faith, connecting couples in our church and community who haven't yet really joined in with a small group, please keep us in your prayers.

Second, if you find yourself sometimes like my girl Lucy, doing your very best to stay squeezed into the spot where you've been comfortable, but the grunting and groaning and maybe even actual growing pains you're experiencing are letting you know God wants to move you somewhere else so He can use you to glorify Him and His plan and SEE His plan unfold - go ahead my friend, and stand up and stretch out those cramped-up legs!

Walk forward towards that new place or job or move or class or leadership role He's calling you to move to. It's okay to be a little uncomfortable when you do it - because you'll be looking at Him with every step you slowly take.

And that's exactly what He wants you to do.