Getting Comfortable in the Uncomfortable

Unfamiliar to Me

Acts 10: 9-16 (NIV)

“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”

“Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”

Acts 10: 34, 35 (NIV)

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.

Philippians 4: 6, 7 (NIV)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 11-13 (NIV)

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.

I was looking for worship music online and stumbled across an artist I had never heard before. I started to play the music and was taken aback by what I had heard. I told the Lord: “I don’t know about this, maybe I should change it.” His response to me: “Just because it’s unfamiliar to you, doesn’t mean that it’s unfamiliar to me.” Later that week, I was invited to a bible study outside of my church. I went and even in that atmosphere, I had the same question.

I believe that you, too, may have found yourself in situations where you have had the same question. Constantly being called on for leadership roles, to do what may be considered the toughest job out of everyone else’s assignment or even just being quiet. It is as if you are in a crowded room, and all of the sudden the people around you move out of the way and you find yourself standing alone, in the middle, for all to see. Uncomfortable indeed.

But how do we recognize that the environment/ season that we are in has been ordained by God? We must first be mindful of the season that we are currently in. Are you in a new season or are you still in the old one, having to re-learn a concept that perhaps was not grasped earlier? Pray (Philippians 4: 6, 7) and ask God what is it that you are to learn from the situations that He allows in our life.

As I was sitting in the bible study with people I had only seen in passing, remembering my earlier conversation with God, I questioned him again. What did he want to show me in this unfamiliar situation? Is he teaching me to listen and not just hear? Is he challenging my prayer life? Is an increase in faith needed for where HE is taking me, and this would be the place where it would be cultivated?

I believe that God allows us entry into certain environments that give us revelation about various areas in our life. Just because it has been done one way, does that mean that it is the only way? Is He revealing a “should’ve, could?” Should you do this or continue to do this, this is what could happen? Does He want to open our eyes to a new way of things because the season in which He is ushering us into requires a different way of doing things? Not that the old way won’t work, but it just won’t be as effective. Is this a season of breaking old habits?

Our God is a versatile God. He doesn’t do everything the same way. If He did, there would be no variation of trees, flowers, people, and animals. There would only be one spiritual gift. His son Jesus would have only needed one apostle.

Peter’s situation reminds us of this concept (Acts 10: 9-16).

A change in perception has the capacity to open our eyes to see the door that God desires for us to walk through, keeping us in obedience to his will for our lives.

Like a math problem, our next season in life requires the maturity produced in previous seasons. Building on previous lessons helps to:

Develop our character

Thicken our emotional skin

Produce and enhance the fruits of the spirit that resides in the believer.

Getting comfortable in the uncomfortable takes time, but in the end it is ours, yours, my solution for being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want (Philippians 4: 11, 12).