Are You Too Comfortable?

Testimony of Angeline Triyono

The comfort zone is called the comfort zone for a reason. It's the place where we aren't challenged and there's no pressure to face our fears. While the comfort zone may be a safe place to be in, it will keep us from growing to see the full potential that God has for us. Are you too comfortable?

For the longest time, I was staying too comfortable.

I didn't feel qualified to lead Bible study, and I definitely never saw myself as a leader. So when my sister asked me to lead Bible Study my first instinct was to say no.

I felt uncomfortable because I was asked to do something that I never saw myself being able to do. I could have stayed in my comfort zone, but I knew this would be the first step to harness the boldness to do God's work. I took the step of faith and said yes.

My yes led me to see God's power and strength work through me. At the end of the Bible Study, the girls were all edified and resonated with the message. I realized that there was no reason for me to fear in the first place. I'm glad that I stepped out of my comfort zone because God opened my eyes to see the potential that I had through Christ. Not only did I grow from stepping out, but I was also able to be a blessing.

Outside our comfort zone is where we get to see God's power work through our weaknesses.

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Doing things out of our comfort zone will always seem to be the scariest thing, but we need to remember that through those experiences we will see God's strength working through our weaknesses. We will gain the boldness and courage to do things we never thought we could. As we step out of our comfort zone, we will find that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13).

Each day is a new opportunity for us to see the fullness of God working through our lives. It's easy to stay comfortable and choose to do nothing, but there is so much a stake when we choose to do nothing. There are lives who need to see the love and hope that Jesus brings. I have to continuously challenge myself to be intentional in making the most of my time even with my friends who are unbelievers. It's uncomfortable for me to talk about Jesus with them because I don't want to be the "odd one", but I've realized that as Christians we are not supposed to "fit in". We were created to be the light in this dark world and stand out for Jesus (Matthew 5:14-16).

It's time for us to wake up and rise up to who God created us to be. Proverbs 6:9 says, "How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?" I've been in that sleeping state and I know I need to wake up.

Do you need a wake-up call? Is there something that God has been asking you to do but you've been holding back on? 

God has gifted each of us with talents to be used for His glory. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).

Are you living out the full potential God has for you? 

Maybe it's fear that's stopping you from stepping out, or maybe you have stepped out but haven't seen the results of your works. If that's you, keep going and don't grow weary in doing good, for in the proper time you will reap a harvest (Galatians 6:9). James 5:7 says, "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains."

When we do God's work we may not see the results right away. This may cause us to question whether we are doing what God is calling us to do, but it's in these moments when we must continue to pursue what He is putting in our hearts to do. God has amazing plans for each of us and it will require us to get out of our comfort zones to see it come to pass.

There's nothing that God can do when we choose to do nothing. But when we choose to get up and partner with God, He blesses the works of our hands. Psalm 90:17 says, "May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands..."

God has plans to use us beyond what we could ever think or imagine. It's time for us to rise out of our comfort zones and do the work He created us to do. So remember, are you too comfortable? 

A Heart After Jesus

Success is appealing, but why can we feel so behind when we've gone so far? Joy gets stripped away from us when our heart is set on anything else but Jesus. We were made to glorify Him and a heart after Jesus is one that will keep us in joy.

I started a youtube channel and you would think I'd be all excited and full of joy, but quite the opposite happened.

I was frustrated, concerned, and anxious.

I was stressing myself out and worrying about how I would bring people to the channel and increase the number of subscribers. I asked God to examine my heart during my alone time with him because I definitely was not at peace.

It was then when he revealed to me that my motives for the videos were wrong. My heart was set on seeing my ministry grow that I lost the focus on simply loving Jesus and sharing Him to the world. I overcomplicated my life by adding goals that I felt had to happen. Once I shifted my focus back to Jesus, I found peace and joy again.

My pursuit was no longer in the numbers but keeping my heart pure for Jesus. When we seek after selfish gain instead of Jesus, we will always find ourselves in a place of unrest.

True joy stems from a heart that is simply after Jesus.

Not after success.
Not after fame.
Not after riches.

But Jesus.

Sure I was doing the works for the kingdom of God, but I found my desire to see my ministry grow supersede Jesus himself. We can be doing things for Jesus but miss Jesus himself. I never want to find myself doing anything but with the motive of loving Jesus and glorifying Him.

As we set our hearts on Jesus, the fruit of our lives will yield automatically. Luke 8:8 says, "Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." The good soil in this verse is referring to a heart that is receptive to the word which is Jesus. Luke 8:15 says, "But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop."

God is more concerned about the condition of our heart than the fruit of our works. It's easy for us to focus on success and the fruit of our works, but we must focus on our hearts. God knows the condition of our hearts and will allow us to go through hardships and testings to purify our motives.

We will find ourselves dissatisfied with life as we pursue our own selfish gains because we were created to glorify Jesus and not ourselves. Isaiah 43:7 says, "Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." God is our creator and He created us for His glory.

Living the most satisfied life is found by living out who God created us to be.

It's no wonder that celebrities and people who we can say hit the mark end up being depressed. Why have they lost joy in the pursuit of their dreams? Because they missed out on the greatest source of fulfillment which is Jesus. When we move from a place of glorifying God to glorifying ourselves, we will lose joy.

Nothing can steal our joy when our hearts are set on Jesus. Jesus says in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have lie, and have it to the full." The enemy will use our own selfish desires to destroy us, but Jesus is here to guide us along a fulfilling life. He leads us beside still waters, He refreshes our soul, He guides us along the right paths for His name sake (Psalm 23:2-3).

What's the condition of your heart? Have you been seeking after your own selfish ambitions or after Jesus? God is calling us to shift our gaze back to Him. As we gaze on His beauty, the worries of this world will dim and His love will shine brightly.

Will you devote your heart to seeking Jesus? 1 Chronicles 22:19 says, "Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord.." Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you need to do to set your heart back on Him. When we seek first God, everything else in our lives will come together (Matthew 6:33). So remember, set your heart after Jesus.