The Stretch

Comfort is a healthy thing when it’s part of your life, but it’s an unhealthy thing when it becomes your life, especially when it comes to your faith.

As humans, we like being comfortable. Comfort is good for inspiration, recovery, rest, and sometimes healing, but it is never good for strength or growth.

God is always moving.

The reality of how much of God’s move we will see is largely defined by the level of our desire to not settle for the way things are, our willingness to reject getting too comfortable for too long, and our capacity for change.
 
Matthew 4
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

1. To follow where Jesus is going, you must let go of the comfortable way things are. They left their nets. God meets you, He doesn’t leave you.
2. When you follow Jesus, He takes something you already know and remakes it. Sent them out to fish for people. Who you are and how you are is what God wants to use, but He won’t leave it undisturbed.
3. Following Jesus is urgent and immediate. At once, immediately. When you hear Jesus call your name, don’t hesitate. It may be the first step on a long journey, but a step, a movement. You will leave things behind which might require mourning. Make sure praying is not an excuse for stalling.

So how do we do this?
Cultivate Discontinuity

When you cultivate something, you are very intentional and disciplined about it, while discontinuity is when there’s a break or interruption in the status quo.

We need to move the anchor point, the bungee cords.

• It can only reach so far.
• It can only stretch so far.
• If it snaps or whips around, it causes chaos, damage, or immobility.
• Without movement, it creates tension with the mission we’re called on.

When someone’s faith grows significantly, it’s because they have embraced a discontinuity.

We get comfortable with the good things, but we also get comfortable with the things we should be uncomfortable with, the bad things we’ve gotten complacent about.

When someone grows stronger, it’s partly because they’ve embraced discontinuity.

• Start/end a relationship.
• Take a risk/make a move.
• Start giving sacrificially/start serving in a place that stretches them.
• Face pain/face complacency.
• Dismantle idols.
• Face sins.
• Create more space for God to fill.

When we hold onto something, even a good thing, there’s a point at which it becomes stale and sour.

All good things have a season. Only Jesus goes with us between every season. Our ability to grow is our key to life. When we stop growing, we start dying. Our ability to grow is tied directly to our capacity for change and our tolerance for discomfort.

Think about all of the most amazing experiences in your life. How many of them were at your most comfortable?

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