[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-discomfort-zone":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-discomfort-zone-surround":112},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":10,"columnName":94,"date":95,"description":5,"extension":96,"image":97,"meta":98,"minRead":99,"navigation":100,"path":101,"postType":102,"publication":103,"publicationUrl":97,"seo":104,"stem":105,"topics":106,"__hash__":111},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-discomfort-zone.md","The Discomfort Zone",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9],"",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":91},"minimark",[13,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,37,40,43,46,49,52,55,58,61,64,67,70,73,76,79,82,85,88],[14,15,5],"p",{},[14,17,18],{},"Publication: The Lookout",[14,20,21],{},"Date: January 29, 2006",[14,23,24],{},"Column: First Look",[14,26,27],{},"Category: Spiritual Growth; Contentment; Blessings; Change",[14,29,30],{},"Lately my wife and I have been engaged in a friendly battle about the temperature in our house. She prefers to leave the furnace turned down as low as possible or even turned off completely. I prefer setting the thermostat on a warm but utility bill friendly 68 degrees. I also prefer not to wake up in the morning with tiny icicles hanging from my eyelashes.",[14,32,33],{},"After 30 years together, Candy and I tolerate a lot of irritations we mutually inflict on each other. I can tell when she has driven my car because the driver's seat feels different—she has pushed it forward and adjusted it to her comfort level instead of mine.",[14,35,36],{},"She likes her food with no added spice. I like a dash of Tabasco® and black pepper.",[14,38,39],{},"During the winter both of us park our cars in the garage. She gets annoyed when I park my car a couple of inches too close to hers, making it difficult for her to open the driver's side door.",[14,41,42],{},"Since our bathroom has only one sink, we have to share counter space. I get annoyed when her makeup and curling iron make their way into my territory. Bathroom zoning laws require reasonable space for a man's razor and shaving cream.",[14,44,45],{},"Most of our disagreements occur because we both simply prefer what makes us comfortable. We don't mean to be selfish. It's just that we gravitate toward our own comfort levels.",[14,47,48],{},"What do people quarrel about in parts of the world where most don't enjoy the convenience of motorized transportation? (Even if they are fortunate enough to own a car, they certainly don't have two cars or a garage.) What about all the folks who don't have furnaces to keep them warm? What about the multitudes who are glad to eat a basic meal every day and don't enjoy the luxury of selecting from a variety of foods and spices? What about all the people who would gladly share a bathroom with their whole family—if they were fortunate enough to have clean running water in their homes?",[14,50,51],{},"Do I want to give up the comforts I enjoy? No. But I have to admit, I've received some of my greatest blessings when I was less comfortable, not more so.",[14,53,54],{},"I have received some of my greatest blessings when I was uncomfortable.",[14,56,57],{},"I've heard a lot of prayers, but none more memorable than the one uttered by a gracious old man in a grass hut in Ethiopia. My back ached as I sat on a rough wooden bench and my taste buds rebelled when I swallowed some very unfamiliar food—but I will never forget that family's hospitality.",[14,59,60],{},"I've slept in some very comfortable beds, and most of them I've forgotten. But I'll always remember camping out in the backyard with my three kids. Even though the ground was hard and the tent was too small, we made lifetime memories by breaking out of the routine.",[14,62,63],{},"I derive deep satisfaction from serving God in my areas of greatest giftedness. However, my faith has grown the most when I've had to tackle jobs I'm not really gifted to do.",[14,65,66],{},"Do I enjoy being uncomfortable? Of course not. But I'm learning to watch for the hand of God in the midst of discomfort, for that is where some of the greatest spiritual blessings are found.",[14,68,69],{},"From the discomfort of the wilderness, Moses emerged with God's law in his hands.",[14,71,72],{},"From the discomfort of hiding in a cave, David wrote some of the Psalms.",[14,74,75],{},"Job enjoyed periods of health and wealth, but we mainly remember his patience in suffering. Solomon enjoyed power and pleasure, but one of his greatest contributions was to share his spiritual frustration in Ecclesiastes and his conclusion that in the end, all that really matters is to fear God and keep his commandments.",[14,77,78],{},"In the discomfort of the lion's den, Daniel trusted God's power to rescue the faithful.",[14,80,81],{},"From the discomfort of a prison, Paul wrote a significant portion of the New Testament.",[14,83,84],{},"From the discomfort of exile on the island of Patmos, John wrote his magnificent revelation of Christ and Heaven.",[14,86,87],{},"And discomfort isn't a strong enough word to describe what happened at Calvary, where for the joy set before him Christ endured the cross.",[14,89,90],{},"Get out of your comfort zone, and you'll be surprised by the blessings you can discover in the discomfort zone.",{"title":9,"searchDepth":92,"depth":92,"links":93},2,[],"First Look","2006-01-29","md",null,{},4,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-discomfort-zone","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":5},"articles\u002Fthe-discomfort-zone",[107,108,109,110],"Spiritual Formation","Biblical Theology","Christian Unity","Discipleship","2bNyIsjWCGJCNvu221Z9_JbHA3i5M0F_g3NJDjnnK-A",[113,118],{"title":114,"path":115,"stem":116,"description":117,"children":-1},"The Difference One Person Makes","\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-difference-one-person-makes","articles\u002Fthe-difference-one-person-makes","An old proverb says, \"One generation plants the tree; the next enjoys its shade.\"",{"title":119,"path":120,"stem":121,"description":122,"children":-1},"The Downside of Mother's Day","\u002Farticles\u002Fthe-downside-of-mother-s-day","articles\u002Fthe-downside-of-mother-s-day","In homes, churches, and restaurants across America, women will smile today as loved ones shower them with carnations, cards, and kind words. But many will meet this morning with mixed emotions, and privately they'll breathe a sigh of relief when the day is over. Some faithful churchgoers will even stay home from worship because for them Mother's Day means pain instead of joy."]