It’s no secret that our lives are fragile.
The common knowledge that we, at any moment, could meet the end of what seems so “routine” in our lives is there among those who both believe in a higher power, and those who don’t. Borrowing hope from past success, we endeavor to set that part of our minds to rest by living a seemingly carefree life, while simultaneously tiptoeing across the tightrope that spans this sentient fire. Frankly, we are afraid of the unknown, and afraid of discomfort.
Comfort (according to Google):
noun
- “A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.”
- “The easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress.”
I am one of the millions of Millennials raised into a world whose main focus is on developing whatever possible to make everything we do a little more comfortable. Sometimes I find myself so comfortable that I’m actually quite…uncomfortable. Ironic, right? It reminds me of Wall-E*, watching all the fat, Pillsbury Dough Boy looking humanoid creatures, that I sometimes have nightmares thinking I will become, riding around in their hover chair-thingies living life to the “max” (min, actually). We are so fickle when it comes to comfort… But the truth is, we have to embrace discomfort. It’s going to happen. Yes, I’m sorry* to burst the bubble of all the Millennials who don’t already know this and that are reading this blog. (You too Generation X-ers, and Baby Boomers. I know there’s gotta be at least one of you reading this.) But, the truth is, we Christians should already know this fact and be striving to better understand and accept it joyfully.
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.“
-James 1:2-4
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works is dead by itself. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ I say, show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works! You believe that there is one God; good for you. Even the demons believe this and tremble in fear. Foolish person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?“
-James 2:14-20
There are a few really important things that James is trying to tell us here in these verses and throughout his letter. His message is simple, yet often difficult to bear: Christianity is uncomfortable, but there is no greater joy found than serving Christ regardless of the situation. I believe that even our basic definition of comfort (as it is presented through the mighty Google, and probably most often seen) declares two types of comfort; world comfort and spiritual comfort. James identifies what spiritual comfort truly is, and tells us that spiritual comfort and worldly comfort cannot coincide. In the aforementioned verses specifically, he highlights several key spiritually comfortable/worldly uncomfortable moments:
- Discomfort through persecution and personal struggle.
-Persecution and various struggles are inevitable as Christians. In John 15:18-20, Jesus basically lays it out for us: “Because I have brought you out of the world, the world will hate you.” But don’t let this verse be a downer, because Jesus also says later in John 16:33, that although we will face trials and tribulation on this earth, we can be encouraged and joyful because He has overcome the world.
- Discomfort through refinement and growth.
-Seemingly, one of the most uncomfortable things we face in our faith is refinement and growth. The big man, King Solomon, even had his fair of growth and refinement and documented it several times throughout the book of Proverbs. “Better is an open rebuke, than hidden love.” (27:5) and “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (27:17) True refinement and growth comes from confrontations saturated with Christlike love and grace. This can be difficult to both give and receive at times, but it is essential.
- Discomfort through active faith.
-Repentance. Pursuit of Godliness, wisdom, knowledge. Giving. Loving. Confronting. Correcting. Forgiving. Transparency. Peacefulness. Gentleness. Humility. Mercy. Grace. These are all examples of just a few of the many uncomfortable things Christians are called to. Yes, it is difficult. Yes, it is uncomfortable. Trust me, I know. But the act of “taking up our cross daily” means that these things, no matter how difficult, must be practiced with a Spirit-driven passion. James highlights later in verses 21-25 of chapter 2 three people whose works-producing uncomfortable faith are pillars for us to look to for guidance. Abraham, Isaac, and Rahab. All three followed God’s call to them into some pretty crazy circumstances, but it’s that faith that we are called to ourselves.
So like Paul (imprisoned), Peter (the leader), John (exiled), Timothy (looked down upon), Abraham (told to sacrifice only son), Isaac (offered as a sacrifice, duh AND lived as a foreigner in Gerar), Jacob (confronted his angry brother), Rahab (shielding spies), Joseph, Moses, Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah, David, Ezekiel, JESUS and so many others, live out your faith. Step outside of the box if you have to. Change if you have to. Confront if you have to. Forgive if you have to. But don’t get comfortable with this world. Stay uncomfortable. Stay joyful. Rejoice in those things the world says is uncomfortable, because that is exactly where Christ has called us.
If we are going to be a generation that takes the Good News of Christ to the world, then we have to live differently than those who dwell in the kingdom of this world. Radical, uncomfortable, redeemed. Live it.
Thank you, and God bless! Please feel free to leave an email at g.l.shrouder@gmail.com with feedback, prayer requests, or just general encouragement.
-GLS
- *A movie any Millennial should become familiar with if they are not already…
- *Not sorry.
Bearlee Afloat 