Uncomfortable Faith

This blog is more about my own experiences through the years but if you are encouraged to step out in faith more that would be great.  God has taken me through some uncomfortable times and seasons during my time of doing ministry.  I have come to realize that it has been these uncomfortable moments that I have grown in my faith much more then in my times of comfort.  Here are a couple of examples of when I was uncomfortable that I learned more about trusting God and what it actually means to have faith.  I finished graduate school and then for almost two years I did not find a position to serve a church.  During this time I was a faithful church member, taught a variety of classes but there were times I wonder if I was actually called and why didn't a church call me back to serve as their pastor.  I was beginning to learn through this experience that God is much more interested in my character then He was in my comfort level.  God had a plan for me but it just took a lot longer for me to understand.  This is where I had to continue to turn to God in faith believing He will open a door at the right time.  Another example is doing the work of an evangelist.  This is the encouragement of the apostle Paul to another who is not an evangelist but we are still called to be His witness and share the gospel.  Every time I would be involved in an evangelism ministry of a church the initial steps were always filled with being uncomfortable.  That is until I took the first step and begin to engage with people about Jesus.  Feeling uncomfortable was always present until I activated my faith to do what I believed God wanted me to do.  In II Corinthians 5:7 "we live by faith, not by sight."  If I allowed my natural feelings to determine what I did then I would not have done much for God.  Another example is when I need to talk to a church member or a friend about a difficult topic.  It has been and continues to be uncomfortable to confront someone.  I hope that continues because until we learn to speak the truth in love we have no platform to speak into someone's life.  The big spiritual lesson for me has been this; when I am uncomfortable it is an opportunity for God to teach me, for me to work on my character and for me to continue to learn how to take steps of faith.  Lets remember our relationship with Jesus is all about faith from beginning to end so anything that teaches me to grow in faith I need to embrace.  May God's love and presence be with you in all seasons of your life.