Comfort is a Slow Death

Break Free from Comfort: Embrace God's Adventure

Think of a time in your life when you felt like you were embarking on an adventure. What was that experience like?

I don’t know much about plants. Chances are, you probably know more than I, but here’s a paraphrased abstract from a study done regarding the depth of the roots and the plant’s ability to survive droughts.

Of Plants and Roots

Deep roots play a crucial role in a tree's ability to withstand drought. These roots specialize in taking up water and often compensate when surface soil water is limited. Deep soils provide a reliable water source since water availability becomes increasingly decoupled from precipitation events, and temporal fluctuations decrease with greater soil depths. Additionally, deep water is less accessed by understory vegetation and is protected from soil evaporation. Tropical humid forests mostly have superficial nutrient cycling and rooting depths, and deep root share has been shown to increase with seasonal water limitation.
- Science of The Total Environment Volume 893, 1 October 2023

This may already be obvious to you, and you don't need a peer-reviewed article to describe the research. But I wanted to cover my bases. Essentially, plants that grow up with plenty of water have shallow roots and are more likely to die in case of a drought. Plants that have had less access to water tend to grow their roots deeper in search of water and discover underground water sources that are more reliable during periods of drought. The discomfort of not having enough water readily available causes the plant to develop in ways that allow it to survive when circumstances become more challenging.

Another way of thinking about this is that plants privileged to grow in a place where water and nutrients are readily available grow faster and become tall and beautiful. Plants that grow in areas where water and nutrients are not readily available tend to grow more slowly, but their roots also grow deeper in search of water. On the surface, they may look inferior; they did not have all the advantages of the other plants. However, when the drought hits, they survive because they have found deep water, which fewer plants have access to, and is protected from soil evaporation.

So, the comfort that seemed beneficial at first actually set the plant up for failure in drought conditions. While the hardship that initially held the plant back ultimately set it up for success when the drought arrived. The question then is, do you prefer the life of easy and early success, even if it is short-lived, or do you prefer the slower and longer journey that will provide you with what you need to succeed in the long run?

A Call to Adventure

Many of you are probably familiar with the story of Genesis 12 and the call of Abraham. God calls Abraham to leave his native country, his relatives, and his father’s land and go to a place God will show him. 

Abraham obeyed.… He forsook his country, his home, his relatives, and all pleasant associations connected with his early life to become a pilgrim and a stranger.

“The very position of ease and the relatives who surround them may prevent them from developing the very traits of character which God would have them develop. But God sees that to change their position and to send them where their surroundings will be entirely different will be the very best place for them to develop a character which will glorify Him.…”
— In Heavenly Places 112.

When we surround ourselves with convenience and ease, we do not feel the necessity of depending moment by moment upon God as much. Are we okay with God, in His providence, bringing us into positions where we will feel our necessity of His help and strength?

Maybe we are afraid of listening to God’s calling because we are concerned about Him calling us out of our comfort zone. However, it's possible that our next stage of faith development requires an adventure, and adventures often take place outside our comfort zone. It could be that you’re already starting or in the middle of your adventure. You’re relying on God daily and are very much out of your comfort zone, and experiencing spiritual growth.

But maybe life is comfortable. You have your routine, and you pretty much forget about God most days. This seems fine; it is comfortable, but your spiritual life has also stagnated. God does not seem very important or necessary most days. Though this may seem fine, we all know that “droughts” come. Do you have a deep root system?

When was a time you experienced spiritual growth? What was happening in your life when you experienced spiritual growth?

Maybe this is your moment of spiritual growth. What is fueling it? What causes you to hunger for and long to connect with God?

Comfort is a slow death

You might have come across this phrase before: “comfort is a slow death.” Comfort is great until you need strength and faith, and find both underdeveloped. The time of crisis is the worst time to develop your faith and strength. It is possible to develop your faith and strength during the crisis, but you can set yourself up for success by developing both ahead of time. One way is by intentionally seeking God and pushing yourself physically. Another way is by going on an adventure.
What is God calling you to do?
How can you serve God and bless others?
What can you do this week that will take you out of your comfort zone?
What can you do this week that will benefit someone else?
How can you be more intentional with your personal devotion (Bible study and prayer)?
What can you do to push yourself physically (safely) this week?

Let me know in the comments below.

Don’t settle for a comfortable life.
Seek a meaningful life in God’s will.