We are continuing on in our series about being “consumed” and today the focus is on being consumed with comfort …

Photo by kennymatic

Of course, my life is not always this comfortable … and that’s the problem. Or at least that’s what it feels like when I encounter trouble. I find that in my “messy” marriage and life, discomfort might actually be more the norm than the exception. I’m not complaining … well, not now anyway! I’ll save that for when trouble crosses my path.

All kidding aside, I’ve been focusing lately on changing my perspective about the difficulties in life. I want to learn to “rejoice always” as the apostle Paul could boldly encourage the church of Philippi to do—while he sat in a cold, Roman prison cell.

I bet the temperature while “he” wrote wasn’t a comfortable 77 degrees. Of course, that was the least of his problems … and yet “I” can get tripped up by the slightest hint of criticism in my spouse’s voice or the smallest inconvenience my family puts in my path.

When I look back on my life and my 25 years of marriage, I’ve discovered that the very times I’ve experienced pressure, unfairness, inconveniences, hardships, losses were the times God grew me by leaps and bounds. But when things have been relatively quiet, I’ve worried about when the “next shoe would drop”—when my comfort would be challenged.

Right now, my husband and I are facing a difficult challenge. We may feel that there are no answers, but we do have two choices. We can either make the choice to stay confined in our growth-paralyzing comfort zone, or we can make the choice to rejoice no matter how much we suffer. And in making that choice, we grow to trust and know Christ more and more. I’m convinced, that’s the choice I want to make.

• Are you facing a divorce that you don’t want?
• Are you trying to escape the pain of your marriage by indulging in an affair?
• Are you weighed down by a chronic or terminal illness?
• Are you frustrated with a dry marriage or an apathetic spouse?
• Are you and your spouse at odds constantly because of unresolved conflicts or painful circumstances?
• Are you running from God because you think surrender is painful?

Perhaps realizing you have a choice to rejoice, knowing that God is giving you an opportunity for growth and greater closeness to Him, might get you out of your comfort zone and into the safety of His arms.