You weren’t made to be comfortable on a couch eating chocolate. You were made to be the hands and feet of Christ extending his love to all. You were made to take risks for the love of God.
By Lauren Heaton
9 December 2017
Do you know that feeling you get when you prepare to jump off of something really tall? It’s like a tipping point, a line that is crossed from safely standing on your own two feet to free falling with gravity as your only true guide.
Similar to this tipping point, some would say life begins at the end of your comfort zone. We feel the most alive when we aren’t worried about the “what if’s” of life. When we step outside of ourselves and what we know to be comfortable and safe, when we take risks, this is when we surprise ourselves with what we can do.
Pope Emeritus understands this well and is credited with saying, “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.”
Let me say that again: YOU were made for greatness.
You weren’t made to be comfortable on a couch eating chocolate. You were made to be the hands and feet of Christ extending his love to all.
The question then is: how do we cross the tipping point of being comfortable on our own two feet and transition to living the life of greatness God desires for you and me?
Well, God in his divine wisdom knows we are at times weak and fearful, which is why he gave us the Holy Spirit to gently nudge us off the ledge of our comfort zones.
“…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” – Mark 1:8
However, the Holy Spirit doesn’t just push us into a free fall. No, the Holy Spirit guides us more than gravity ever could (and gravity has a lot of influence over us, does it not?).
As we move into the second week of Advent and focus on giving gifts like Christ gives us gifts, I want to bring us back to a pattern we talked about a few weeks ago: believe, receive, give and repeat. This week for your advent challenge I encourage you to receive the power of the Holy Spirit so you can give to others more fully from the other gifts Christ has bestowed on you.
“Now the one who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a first installment. So we are always courageous” – 2 Corinthians 5:5-6
Pray this week to receive more fully the gifts of the Holy Spirit, allowing you to move deeper into the Advent season. With these divine gifts, you’ll be better prepared to step outside of your comfort zone and give as Jesus calls you to do.
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Photo Credit: Lauren Heaton. Developed for Joy In Truth.
Lauren is a young Catholic professional working in the marketing industry. She loves working with high schoolers and leads a high school youth group. She is also passionate about leading a young women’s bible study, is on the leadership team for West Denver 2:42 a young adult ministry and sings at her church. Lauren is a modest fashion enthusiast, pancake connoisseur, promoter of faith and fitness, and lover of all things family oriented.
Very well written, as usual, sweet Lauren. You always give me food for thought. Thanks you.
Love you very much. Loved going to the theater with you last Saturday. You are precious and I love you. Gram Harriet.