Uncomfortable

Freezing cold water. A wicked hot and muggy day. A room full of people you don’t know. Avoiding going to the bathroom at someone’s house. Being made fun of.

No one actually enjoys feeling uncomfortable. And every person has different things they would consider uncomfortable. I personally cannot sleep on a floor, I am so uncomfortable I just can’t fall asleep. Another thing that makes me uncomfortable is when I’m in a job interview. My confidence is not easy to find in the moment, and I’m just not comfortable. Or high heels. Ugh-zero comfort for me.

But comfort…. Being comfortable is the best. Climbing into bed with soft pajamas on. The perfect spring day sitting on the porch eating nachos. I love being comfortable. Driving in my car is when I feel most comfortable. I know I can steer that car wherever I want. I am usually playing music that makes me feel good. Comfort is real when I’m on a road trip. I also feel comfortable when I’m at home. Where I grew up and the place I know better than anywhere.

My view on comfort was challenged when I heard Andy Mineo’s song Uncomfortable. I had always heard people say “get out of your comfort zone”, but what does that mean?

Short answer-Push yourself.

Long(ish) Answer-I think getting out of your comfort zone is different for everyone. For some it may mean saying hi to someone at church, for some it may mean to expand your thinking, learn more than what you’re comfortable knowing. For me, it meant a season of home hopping, a season of not getting comfortable in life. And the blessings from being uncomfortable were, and are, amazing.

When I had moved to New Hampshire it was definitely outside of my comfort zone. I was moving into a small apartment by myself, after growing up in a full house. I was scared. I was uncomfortable, in every aspect. I had to introduce myself to people. 😳 But, I did and that time brought so much clarity into my life.

When I lived in Boston I was so far from my comfort zone. I had to take the train to school every day. I had to walk in the freezing cold from my house to the station in the mornings. I had to shovel my own driveway, not rely on my dad. I had to find a church on my own. It was hard. It was fast, city life. (I’ll tell you more about my Boston life another time, I’ll try and stay on track for now!)

This season of uncomfortableness brought confusion and frustration and debt. And more patience and greater faith and better control of my emotions and amazing friends, and an experience no one can take from me.

It was when I was comfortable in my life-when I lived at home with a solid job, food in the fridge, friends to hang out with. It was then that my faith lessened. It was those times that I gained weight and it was those times I wasn’t stressed by having debt. It was those times I was complacent in my walk with Jesus. Oh man that’s the worst. Just “being fine” in any relationship is not good.

“God prepare me for the war
Comfort be the thing that’ll make a king fall
Eyes on the Lord, gotta grip that blade of the sword
Tell me how you plan on gettin’ swole if you don’t ever get sore”

We are in a war. We live in a sin filled World that we are trying to combat with our faith. When a king fails in some way, it’s very possible it’s because he forgot to cross a t or dot an I, or he trusted someone else to do something or he thought he could hide something. Or he felt he was above everything and was comfortable there. And when muscle increase is wanted, someone is working out a ton, they’ll naturally get sore, achy and tired. That is uncomfortable. But if you want to be swole then you need to enter an uncomfortable period of time. It’s the sacrifice you make. And the outcome is noticeable, it’s growth.

Everyone’s comfort zone is different and stepping out of your comfort looks different too. But, no matter where anyone is the reality is it’s difficult. We allow fear or opinions to get in the way.

If you’re stepping the right way and for the right reasons, it will be blessed.

Where is your comfort zone? How much more could you do if you stepped out of it? Is God telling you to leave your zone? Does your faith need to grow? Are you fine where you are?

Was Jesus comfortable?