Are You Comfortable?

ARE YOU COMFORTABLE?

We all like to be comfortable and we look for situations and places that make us feel comfortable. While there we feel safe and there is no sense of risk. Many of us would rather stick with what we know than venture into the unknown. Many of us say it this way, “Better the devil you know than the angel you do not know”. A spy was captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Persian Army. Before carrying out the sentence the general gave the spy a strange choice. He told him he could have his choice of a firing squad or a big black door. After much deliberation the spy chose the firing squad and within a few moments he was dead. The general turned to his aide and said, “They always prefer the known way to the unknown.”The aide then asked the general, “What’s behind the black door?” “Freedom!” Replied the general. Behind the black door is a passageway that leads outside, but only a few have been brave enough to see what was behind it! Matthew 14:25-31 25During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. don’t be afraid.” 28“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” We all have Comfort zones which we develop after we have done things a particular way for a period of time. Unfortunately, they can make us feel so comfortable, that we never want to change the way we do things and that becomes a hindrance to many of us from moving on into the next level. Many times doing things the way we have always done them seems like the easy way out. Peter had a choice to make as soon as Jesus beckoned him to come on the water. You have to remember that Peter was a fisherman and he understood that there is no way a man can walk on water. Stepping out of the boat meant getting out of his comfort zone, moving from the known to the unknown. He had to let go of the security of the boat to embrace the insecurity of the waves. Many of us would rather stay in the boat because we are afraid of what people will say. The biggest critics are usually the ones who remain in the boat and they will give you all the reasons why you need to remain in there with them. Some of us stay in the boat because we are afraid to fail. The biggest question that keeps holding us back is “What if I sink?” Well I have another question for you, “What if you actually walk on water?” Aside from all that, the biggest lesson I learn from this scriptures is this: in order to break out of my comfort zone and walk on the water I need to have a clear word from God. Peter did not just decide to walk on the water, he asked the Lord for a word and the Lord said come. What has God said to you that you are afraid to do because you are comfortable? Is it moving to a new neighborhood or resigning your job? Are you afraid of getting born again because you have convinced yourself that you will backslide? What thing that seems naturally impossible to you has God told you to do but yet you are afraid because it means venturing into uncharted territories? Like the Nike slogan all I can tell you today is “Just do it!” PRACTICAL APPLICATION So what is it going to be, will you stay in the boat or will you believe God and walk on the water?