"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." -Romans 5:3-4
Perhaps one of the ways in which a human fails themself the most, is when they put the word "change" in a hostile picture frame. There is this illusion that anything that is out of our comfort zone, is a danger to our very souls. Yet, it is the one who finally that takes the leap that is beyond the confines of what they know, that discovers what they have been missing out on all along.
“If we are always playing it safe, we are never truly growing.”
It can be said that the enemy works in a lot of ways, and it is only when we step out into God's purpose for our lives that those lies can be covered with the the Truth of His Word. Often times, this can mean diving head first into a task- perceiving it as daunting merely because it is a journey in which we have never previously embarked on. Yet, we can only say that we trust God when we are willing to go where He calls us, no matter where that may be. When God says to "go", we must go, all the while having the faith to believe that He will take care of us as we do His will.
Overcoming What's Familiar
There is this apprehension that gnaws at human beings at the thought of doing anything outside of what we know to be our "safe zone". Yet, if we are always playing it safe, we are never truly growing. We are never discovering the full capacity of what we are capable of, and we certainly are not opening ourselves up to allow God to complete the work that He started in us.
This summer I have discovered the art of being afraid, all the while realizing that being afraid is the first step to being transformed. When we allow ourselves to step into the unknown, it should be expected that our natural instinct is to be fearful. However, the key is to acknowledge the fear and still choose to fight. It is about realizing that after the transition comes the transformation, and sticking it out will allow you to realize your strength that you previously didn't realize existed. It is about seeing how much you can go through, and yet how God continuously sustains; nothing is too hard for Him. It is about putting your faith to action- and your words being more than merely words.
As someone who has struggled with anxiety for a majority of my life, traveling and being away from home these past few months has brought me to the very end of my rope. It has taken me to a realm of my existence that is at the bottom of my very self. Yet, it is in that moment of desperation that I can look up and see the truth- that it is just God and I's fight. That it is okay to cry at first, because from the suffering comes perseverance and from perseverance, character and from character, hope. I know that I am not the same person that I was before each journey, but that I am stronger because God not only preserved me but grew me. Anything is possible, and that becomes all the more real when we live it out. Now onto the next adventure.
Perhaps your greatest fear, is your optimum strength in disguise. Sometimes our comfort zones have to be pushed in order to find components of our purpose that we have buried beneath the surface all of our lives. What if the very thing that the enemy tries to keep us from, is our greatest weapon?
Are we willing to take the leap if we know that that is where God is calling us to go? Do we trust Him enough- not just in words but in actions and thoughts? Perhaps our best life is just beyond the confines of our greatest comforts.
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