Jesus Doesn't Call Us To Be Comfortable.

I'm sitting in the É21 office space by myself this morning. It's quiet, except for the A/C, the occasional "ding-dong" of the door when someone - from the company with whom we share the office - comes in, outside construction and car horns, and the clacking of my own fingers on the keys as I type this post.

I mentioned in my last post that as a part of my internship I'm required to write eight book reports. I'm working on one this morning and a fleeting thought that passed through my mind while reading was, 'I wish I was back at my college.'

Source: Pawel Czerwinski; unsplash.com

Now, don't get me wrong, that's not because I don't want to be here in Montréal; I'm definitely glad to be here. Rather, my desire to be back at home is entirely based around the fact that home is a comfortable place for me. But so often I've been told that Jesus doesn't call us to be comfortable.

He calls us to serve Him.

He calls us to love Him.

He calls us to love others.

He calls us to make disciples of all nations.

And yes, I can serve Him, love Him, and love others wherever I am. And perhaps it's true that I'd somehow be able to make disciples of all nations from my own home. But would I?

Likely not.

Because when I'm comfortable, when I'm in a place where I'm familiar with the people and the places around me, I don't branch out.

I hang out with my friends. Which is great, don't misunderstand what I'm saying. It's totally important to cultivate your existing friendships and grow them deeper. But in order to meet new people - in order to go and make disciples of all nations - you need to actually place yourself in a context where you'll be meeting new people. Which, I must admit, I don't do enough of when I'm at home. #honestyhour

But here in Montréal? I don't have a choice!! I only have one friend here so far (shout out to my lovely Lydia 💛) and it's hard. Lydia is 100% amazing, and over the past couple of days she's dropped stuff (I think) to come and meet me in a Starbucks downtown because I'm struggling with feeling small and lonely and nearly non-existent in a city that's absolutely filled with people. I am not used to this in the least! I'm used to seeing my family every day, my best friend at least twice a week, and spending evenings with different friends. So being able to count my Montréal friends on ONE FINGER is tough, my dudes. And I have to meet new people. It's vital! I can't survive alone. We were created to exist in community. And I know it's going to happen. It's only my first week - I'll meet more and more people soon enough.

Lydiaaa 💛

This Sunday will be my first church service with Église 21, and I'm hoping that after I get introduced to the congregation I will begin to make more connections. But I also know from Lydia's experience that it still may not come quite as easily as I think it should. Note to self: Patience is a VIRTUE.

And I need to be okay with that. Because Jesus is challenging me. Jesus isn't asking me to be comfortable. And I get that. Am I fully okay with it? Honestly, not always. But I like to think that that's okay. Because I'm here. I made the choice, I took the plunge, I drove for almost ten hours (well, my dad did) and navigated downtown Montréal traffic. I heard God's call to come to my neighbouring province. I answered the call. I agreed to be challenged.

Because when it's my Heavenly Father who's challenging me, I know it'll work out for my good, and for His glory. Which is how I want to always always always be living my life. As my good friend Beth says (or said one time, idk), "Take God's hand and do the next thing."

Here's to being uncomfortable for the sake of advancing God's Kingdom. 🙌🏼

"And He said to [me], "Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation." {Mark 16:15 - ESV)