I was reading over some material I wrote down at a men’s conference I went to with my church. I came across something I wrote, “Do we ask (but not seek) for suffering? Why NOT?! We are only protecting ourselves from the change God wants to bring about in our lives. 2 Cor 12:10”

God wants to work on us. He wants to change us. However, our constant fight in the flesh is to completely protect ourselves from the tools with which God uses to affect that change. We have somehow come to the conclusion that it is acceptable to live a comfortable life.

How many great men in the bible led a comfortable life? It is a silly question, one that I laugh at asking. Did you know that in the NKJV, NIV and NASB the word “Comfortable” does not even appear? Yet, we still come to the conclusion that comfort is the goal in life. Our whole lives are designed around the idea that we should get more and more comfortable as we age.

This is a silly example, but bear with me. On an airplane there are exit rows that are often wider than the rest of the rows. I think it is perfectly OK to ask for the row, but if you are turned down, how hard are you willing to fight for it? Now take this out to the rest of your life. How hard are you fighting for comfort? How much energy and resources to you place into “making life better?” And, might I reply, “better for whom?” (Also, beware, even though better is 6 letters, I think it falls in with good.)

How was Paul able to take pleasure in suffering (also Col 1:24)? We are so short sighted when it comes to how we see suffering. I do not like it either, but we need to stay focused. We all understand that sometimes a little suffering is good in the long run. Have you ever had a shot? Did it hurt? Why did you do it? Romans 8:18

Let us be comforted, but not comfortable.