Comfort Zones

I’ve noticed something when taking care of kids in the emergency room. When they hurt, they shut their eyes. When they’re afraid, they close their eyes tight. Eventually, by the time the pain medication kicks in and the pain becomes bearable, they tentatively steal a quick peek. Then slowly they keep opening their eyes until they can finally breathe normally again. That’s when the fun usually begins. We talk, we laugh. They tell me stories and watch TV and, all the while, I do my thing. I sew them up and fix their wounds. I do the healing while we enjoy getting to know one another.

Our journey with the Lord is much like that. Following Jesus is often a costly and painful process. God systematically removes His children away from our attachments to our security blankets and comfort zones that threaten to lull us into a spiritual coma. And it hurts.

At first, the pain seems too much to bear, the losses too drastic to imagine. We close our eyes and fight. Eventually, we stop long enough to steal a peek and notice that the pain is not meant to hurt us but to fix us. The more we look and try to see what’s happening, the more we realize that we can let go and enjoy the ride. We’re not only going to make it, but we’re getting better in the process.

What joy there is when we finally see that God is our Great Physician, healing us, helping us, and loving us. He’s given us everything we need to live for Him. Instead of the human comforts we think will give us joy—like material possessions, relationships, homes, personal abilities—He provides comforts that can never be stolen from us—His Presence, His Promises, His Grace, His Provision.

---

Adapted from Still Standing: Following Jesus Even When It Hurts by Lina AbuJamra. Copyright © 2024 by Lina AbuJamra. Reprinted with permission of Moody Publishers. All rights reserved.