Apples of Gold

I grew up in a relatively sheltered environment. My days were often spent catching footballs, chasing cows or in the not so desired educational environment of our local school. My routine was simple, comfortable and unassuming. The self-imposed boundaries of my comfort zone remained mostly untouched until I began my journey to acquire my Bible degree. 

I was 17 years old when my parents put me on the bus at a makeshift station located inside a small shop in the not so big nearby city. Looking back I wonder how they let me take this journey. I had never really traveled alone, and I was headed across two-time zones to a place I had never been, to go to a college I had never seen, with people I had never met. Traveling by bus was an adventure in itself and my naiveté was soon extremely evident to those around me. 

I didn’t realize that this was just the beginning of the destruction of my comfort zone! I married shortly after graduation and my husband “encouraged” me to venture into uncharted territory. I learned to drive a stick-shift, navigate rush-hour traffic in Chicago, and step out in areas of ministry I had never even considered. 

God often leads his children out of familiar territory:

So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! Build a large boat from cypress wood.” Genesis 6:13-14

It is quite reasonable to assume that the journey ahead of Noah and his family was going to take them out of their comfort zone. Entering the enormous ark, surrounded by wild animals and an ominous message from God concerning death and destruction of basically everything they knew, Noah and his family spent a week on the ark with no sign of impending doom. Perhaps they wondered if Noah had really heard what he thought he heard. After all, he was 600 years old!

After 7 days the floodwaters came with a ferocity that we can only imagine. The storm raged for 40 days and nights. When the skies finally cleared and the sun was visible again the family settled in for a very long wait.  

The floodwaters covered the earth for 150 days, exactly five months from the time the flood began, the boat came to rest on the mountains of Ararat. Two and a half months later, as the waters continued to go down, other mountain peaks became visible.  Genesis 7:24-5

Noah and his crew spent a little over a year on the ark. That is plenty of time to grow comfortable with their unusual routine and rather confined surroundings. 

Eventually the water was gone and the earth was dry but the occupants remained in the ark. Perhaps they were not sure what to do next, or were waiting for further direction from the One who had started this whole thing:

The God said to Noah, “Leave the boat, all of you-you and your wife, and your sons and their wives. Release all the animals-the birds, the livestock, and the small animals that scurry along the ground-so they can be fruitful and multiply throughout the earth.” Genesis 8:16-17

As times shift and we grow and change our comfort zones change as well. I was rather surprised when it became time to trade cars and going from the stick-shift to an automatic was uncomfortable for me! 

The ark had been a haven during a very traumatic time. I can’t even imagine processing all of the destruction occurring around them as well as speculating about what would happen next. It might have been a tad monotonous and confining, but the ark was sturdy, sure and safe. Staying in the ark might have seemed like a reasonable option, at least for just a little longer. 

Like a small child with a skinned-knee makes a bee-line for mama; trauma causes us to retreat into our comfort zone. Our comfort zone is, well, comfortable. So it can be tempting to remain in it. 

Inside the ark our basic needs are met and we are sheltered from those who might injure us, physically or emotionally. While it is critical that we pause and take time in our refuge to forgive, heal and get direction from our Father he beckons us to get out of the boat and interact with a messed up world. 

Sometimes God’s prodding to get out there and impact the world is met with feeble attempts to explain why we are inadequate. I’m too old-When they left the ark Noah was 601 years old-there goes that one! I’m not smart enough, or strong enough or whatever enough…

Remember dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 1 Corinthians 1:26-28

It is time to break out of your comfort zone. What are you waiting for?