For the love of comfort
I admit it, I have driveway envy. I recently dropped one of my kids off at a friend’s house, and the moment I was backing up to head home I could not help remarking to myself, “Look at this long, beautiful driveway.”
Since moving back to New England four years ago, we have been street parkers. As someone who has never parallel parked well and also somehow naturally lacks depth perception, street parking is a challenge. Factor in a vehicle with power steering that spontaneously stops working at the most inconvenient times, and there are moments when trying to park on our block honestly feels impossible.
But the challenges of street parking don’t end once you have secured your spot. Parking is allowed on both sides of our narrow, one-way street. This means that anyone attempting to actually drive down the street must pay careful attention in order to navigate the tight margins.
It doesn’t matter how close you creep your tires to the curb or how often you remember to tuck in your side mirror, the moment your car is parked on the street it becomes a sitting target.
For a while we were keeping a running tally of the number of hit & runs we experienced, but at this point we have lost track. I have had to accept that driving a busted up car is just collateral damage of inner city ministry.
Really though, the challenges of ministry life in our city extend far beyond simple street parking. In order to faithfully serve here, I must constantly surrender my desire for comfort before the Lord, and ask Him for help in all of the areas where life just feels so uncomfortable.
“In order to faithfully serve here, I must constantly surrender my desire for comfort before the Lord, and ask Him for help in all of the areas where life just feels so uncomfortable.”
Jesus’ command in Matthew 28 telling us to go and make disciples, baptize and teach, has nothing to do with functioning in comfort zones, and everything to do with following Him in faith. The scripture makes it clear that for those who follow Christ, we are to lay our lives down and share in His suffering.
In Romans 8:16-17 we read: “The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him” (CSB, italics mine).
This concept of laying our lives down and sharing in Christ’s suffering can be seen all throughout scripture. In Galatians 2:20 Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (CSB).
Over the past four years I have had countless conversations with people who have enthusiastically let me know that they could never live, work, and share Christ in our city because their preferences would not allow it.
Friends, we all want to be comfortable. But the call to follow Jesus was never about having a life of comfort. We were never promised safety or guaranteed ease.
“Friends, we all want to be comfortable. But the call to follow Jesus was never about having a life of comfort. We were never promised safety or guaranteed ease.”
I would prefer a driveway. And honestly, it’s just one thing at the top of a long wish list of preferences.
But more than comfort, I want Christ. I want to know Him, and make Him known. I want to live out my years faithfully, and one day arrive home to the words, “Well done.”
Maybe the Lord is not calling you to inner city ministry. But if you are a Christian the Lord is calling you to follow Him in faith and obedience. He beckons each of us to surrender our love of comfort.
“The one who loves his life will lose it, and the one who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me. Where I am, there my servant also will be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him” (John 12:25-26 CSB).
Are there areas where you have allowed the love of comfort to rule your life?
Where is the Lord asking you to lay down your preferences and follow Him in faith and obedience?
Jess Proudfoot is an urban missionary in New Bedford, MA. She is part of the church planting team and also serves as the Director of Women’s Ministries at Grace Harbor Church in New Bedford.
