Comfort Zones- Safety Nets or Hiding Places?

Change.

I'm sitting here now wondering if I should open this can of worms or not. Is it worth it? Will I just be causing more trouble for myself by putting this out there for the world to read, devour, and tear apart?

Well, I think I've made my decision (I mean, this is posted right now, so I think you probably know what it is)- I'm gonna go for it.

When I think of change, I think of pain. I think of a dark place way outside my comfort zone where I'm alone. No one else is there and no one understands. Eventually, though, as the scene goes on, the sun comes out and I slowly become more comfortable, exploring my new surroundings. With the sun, broken bits of glass on the ground become rainbows of color. Under closer inspection, the cracked sidewalk has wild flowers bursting through to the world above. The scary, siren-like noise that had me covering my ears turns out to be people, laughing and conversing, and music playing. Eventually, when I open myself up to this new world, I enjoy it. I still miss the old world a little, but I become just as content to stay in my new environment. And then the scene shifts again...

This is a never ending cycle for me. I remember a few years ago, I was in this situation in a huge way. Mom had decided to send us to a co-op! (Very pathetic, I know. It was huge in my twelve year old mind, okay? Plus, I was an unsocialized homeschooler, very nerdy (still am), and I'd the one best friend I'd had my entire life was suddenly gone. Very turbulent time for me.) At this co-op, I knew one person, but I was convinced that I wasn't going to fit in. I remember secretly putting on make-up the first morning (thinking back, it must have looked horrible) and getting into a discussion about it with Mom when she found out. That first day at lunch, I didn't want to 'intrude' on the girls who already knew each other so I sat with my family. I geeked about the smallest things because I wanted to be known somehow. Four years later, Shema (my co-op) is my favorite part of the week. My best friends, the most trustworthy counselors and encouragers, are there. I have conversations with many of them throughout the week and they keep me accountable. I would not be where I am today without them. Without the change I would still be at home, unchallenged whatsoever. I shudder to think where I might have been.

So change is a good thing. I mean, think about it. Every good thing that's ever happened to you happened because something changed. (Woah. That's some deep Pinterest knowledge for ya.)

Now, looking forward, I see the peaceful, easy world that I live in now coming to an end. I'm sure I will glance back sometime in the far (okay, maybe not so far. A year or so.) future and laugh at my pathetic-ness about this. But right now, I'm afraid and I want things to stay the way they are. I sit here and try to convince myself that I have everything I need and want right here. Why would I want to uproot myself?

Well here's a question for my thick-headed self- WHY WOULDN'T I?!

That question is just as dumb as the other one, I'm realizing. Why would I be so afraid to give up my comfort if something better was coming? The answer is now simple to me- it's because I haven't given over everything to God. I'm not trusting God completely with everything. I hide in my comfort zone, telling Jesus that I love Him and will do anything for Him, but the moment He reaches to take what's rightfully His, I pull back.

And the crazy part is that I know it's only good that's coming. (Jeremiah 29:11, Romans 8:28) Why is it that I forget the good and only remember the bad? Why is it so hard to remember that God loves me and everything that happens will work for my good and for His glory? I think the whole issue comes back to trust. It's so easy to provide lip service of how much we trust Him, but when push comes to shove, do we? Do we love Him enough to give Him that trust, to hold onto what we have and the life we live so loosely that if He asks us to give up our comfort zone to follow Him, we will? If I don't readily give up my comfortable life here to move a mere hour away, what will I do if He calls me to serve Him far away in another country?

Luke 9:23 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Our comfort zone is part of ourselves- it's where we draw the line of what we feel is okay and what seems dangerous or different. This verse clearly says that if we want to follow Him, we have to deny ourselves. As painful and uncomfortable that sounds, that's what the Bible says.

Is your comfort zone holding you back? Are you keeping something from Jesus, the one that gave up everything in order to save you and give you a hope and a future? I know I can and on His strength, that will be fixed.

Difference Maker by NEEDTOBREATHE

What you need to know:

Gorgeous song- Difference Maker by NEEDTOBREATHE- Give it a listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2LtB9KLf98



Meaning behind the song- Take a look at what you are doing and evaluate, "Is this God's plan for my life?" : http://www.newreleasetuesday.com/article.php?article_id=1305


What I think about it:
The whole song is about ambition and control.  Growing up, I always thought ambition was a great and dandy quality.  Ambition meaning 'hard work' and 'determination.'  Turns out that ambition can be unfavorable character quality.  For example, in the movie God's Not Dead, Josh Wheaton's girlfriend was unfavorably ambitious because she was basically dragging him through college to get to her future. She had her own plan, her own agenda, and if anyone messed with her plans she wouldn't give them the time of day.  Not only is this type of ambition rude, it ruins relationships and opportunities. 

Control.  Here's what Bear Rinehart says about ambition and control in the article above,
"Our ambition got in the way and our priorities got in the wrong place, and being on the road and not knowing where we are. At the end of the album, the truth is there, and we've realigned our priorities. That really is the story of what happened to the band over that year. God had a plan for this album. We needed to put our identity into the things that matter in God, rather than in the band." There are things in life that I can't control.  My height.  My age.  My eye color.  Sometimes there are really good reasons why I can't control certain aspects of my life.  There are times I wish I could control everything just so everything would be better.  This was my heart's desire when I was in like 4th grade.  At that age, it became increasingly obvious to me that America was in need of some help.  Of course being my goody-two-shoes-little-girl-who-wants-to-take-on-life-like-a-roaring-lioness self, one particular day, I broke down in sobs asking God, "WHY AM I NOT THE PRESIDENT?"  In my mind, if I were the president, none of these horrible problems would exist. Looking back, it is a very good thing for me, America, and the whole world, that my 4th grader self was not president. I love the astronaut imagery.  We try to be in control of everything we can touch.  Sometimes we even think we are in control of certain things then we get upset when we lose our grip.  Often times, we are just holding on to one thread to keep us alive; like an astronaut exploring space.  

The best thing about ambition and control is that I know who is behind it all.  If I were to want anyone to motivate me when times got tough, to take the lead when I can't and don't know better, I would want God to.  Life is so much better when you know that- the creator of our universe, the beginning and end, my savior and friend, all knowing, all powerful, and loving- God has your best interests at heart and wants to have a relationship with you.  I find it 100% encouraging.  It makes my life have purpose and beauty.  I have incredible hope.  Part of that hope is where I find my identity.  I am so thankful that I don't have to find my identity in clothes, money, fame, sexuality, or beauty.  I am who I am not because of what I've done, but because of what God has done for me.  I find hope and assurance that I can give my life to God and he has a brilliant plan for me; plans that are bigger and better than my dreams. 

What makes me a Difference Maker?  I find my identity in Christ.  He is the Difference Maker. 

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Reilly is a full time intern with Created Equal this summer learning about how to educate perfect strangers and close friends about the value of human life. Her goal this summer is to speak up for those who can't speak up for themselves; the preborn. Earning her online bachelors degree through Liberty University with the help of CollegePlus, Reilly is well on her way to becoming a family counselor. Her interests include: reading, laughing, biking, dreaming, thinking, loving, and how people work.  Her latest obession is mixing coffee with black tea or hot chocolate. She claims the analogy of her ENFJ life is a mirror; reflecting those around her.  She surrounds herself with people she loves and learns from. A few of her favorite words include: fickle, shrubbery, sckedattle, shenanagans, bombdiggity, dofalally, ought, violently, catastrophic, and coff-tea.  You can keep up with her via Pinterest, Facebook, or Google+.  Send her funny stuff, she'll appreciate it.