Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable is a Deeper Waters post, kind of like a mini-Bible Study and I know it will really challenge your faith and inspire you to trust God with more of your life. I really encourage you to download and use a Soul H2O Journal Page to help you get the most out of this post and draw from the MANY Scripture references in the Drawing From The Well section at the bottom.

Soul H2O Deeper Waters

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

Last weekend Todd and I both spoke at a Pechakucha Night put on by his amazing friend, Andy Vasily.

If you’ve never heard of Pechakucha, it’s a gathering of friends designed by renowned architects Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham where presenters share a 6 minute, 40 speech with 20 slides that change automatically every 20 seconds.

Let me just say, It’s a challenge. Even though I love presenting and even get paid for speaking, I saw this as a challenge. Believe it or not, speaking longer is actually easier than speaking for such a short time, trying to memorize so your words match the image on the screen was a challenge for me, especially when I was a month past due for my B12 shot!

Both Todd and I had an incredible time at the event and heard some amazing speeches. We both got a little lost in our slides at times (like many people did), but at the end felt better for the experience and know we could improve next time.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

Pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a good thing and, if you want to follow God, you’ve got to get comfortable being uncomfortable.

Taking a look how Jesus discipled his followers should be our big tip-off to reveal this about Christ’s character. Take the disciples’ experience in Matthew 14 for example.

From Feeding To Floating To Sinking—Then Walking on Water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.
Matthew 14:22-33 ESV

Peter and the boys had been helping Jesus run a missional event where they got to take part in the miraculous feeding of 5000 people! Even before the crowd was gone, Jesus directed the disciples to get to the other side, making them go by way of the water, in a boat. Soon after, the wind and waves began to batter the boat and they feared for their lives.

Now before you start that Oh, Jesus wouldn’t have been so pushy and made them go into a potentially life-threatening circumstance, let me help you understand the original wording of this verse in Greek. Anagkazó is what many many Bible versions translate as “made, insisted, compelled, constrained, or directed” could just as easily been translated as “forced” since Strong’s Concordance and other Bible Dictionaries say the word means “to force, compel, constrain, urge”.

Jesus didn’t come to make you comfortable; He came to make you a brave witness.

Jesus isn’t concerned with your comfort level and is completely comfortable, making you uncomfortable.

Once Jesus led them to a place where their faith could be tested, this is the place where Peter’s faith rose to the level of confidence in God’s strength where he was able to walk on water. Ya, he did allow fear to creep back in and started to sink again but this faith-building exercise is what I believe God used to help construct a foundation of faith in Peter that would one-day grow so strong that he pushed through and preached, leading thousands upon thousands to faith in Christ.

Jesus Is Totally Fine With You Feeling Uncomfortable

The reality is, if you don’t get stretched, you don’t grow. When God allows your circumstances to push you beyond your natural limits, that’s when His ‘super’natural kicks into gear. You can trust you have what it takes to pass through these troubled waters, just like the disciples did because God clearly believes you can!

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

You don’t have to walk in your own strength, God’s offering His to you each day. Be like Peter, step out of the boat and get comfortable being uncomfortable, the water’s just fine!

Prayer

Father… Thank you for all the examples in the Bible of flawed people, just like me, overcoming difficulties and reaching their destiny. Help me to get get comfortable being uncomfortable, so I don’t miss out on watching your strength displayed in my life, leading others to put their faith in you when times get tough.
In Jesus Name…Amen

Verses to help fill up your well.

This post has a deep well and I hope you’ll keep drawing up the refreshing until you’re OVERflowing!

1. Matthew 14:22-33
2. Acts 10:34
3. Joshua 1:9
4. Job 1:6-12
5. Exodus 13:17-18
6. Deuteronomy 1:7
7. 2 Timothy 1:7
8. John 15:16
9. Proverbs 3:5-6
10. Philippians 4:13
11. Jeremiah 29:11
12. James 1:22
13. Mark 16:15
14. Isaiah 42:16
15. Matthew 16:24
16. Deuteronomy 33:25

Soul H2O Resources

http://www.soulh2o.com/28

Seasons Of Growth In Adversity | EP #28

Seasons of Growth In Adversity features a powerful teaching and three interviews with my hubby Todd, daughter Shelby and mentor Peggy Kennedy, sharing about their seasons of growth.

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#musicpic

This week I’m gonna suggest two songs out of my normal contemporary music style but both hit home the message and I’m a bit eclectic at times!

#musicpic SONG #1 (Gospel Flava)Comfort Zone by Marvin Sapp YouTube Video | Spotify Link

#musicpic SONG #2 (An Oldie) Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns YouTube Video | Spotify Link

Soul H2O Spotify Playlist: Online | On App

Where it all began

Want to read the first Soul H2O Devotion?
Repeats (Do Not Worry)

https://www.sherrystahl.com/repeats/

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

DOWNLOAD THESE REFRESHING RESOURCES TO HELP QUENCH YOUR SPIRITUAL THIRST!

ENDNOTES

1. None This Week

WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

I was Shortlisted In 3 Categories!

Back in 2017, I won The Word Awards – Article Devotional/Inspirational Category for my post on “The Teenager” in my Celebrating The Women of The Christmas Series.

This year, I was shortlisted in three categories!!!!

So exciting! I hope you cheer me on for…

The 2022 Word Awards Celebration

Hosted by Tara K. Ross and Murray Pura

Watch the Recorded Show on TWA Facebook Page & The Word Guild YouTube Channel

DOWNLOAD THE SHORT LIST –>The Word Awards Shortlist

Soul H2O Resources

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Making The Most Of Your Influence

I was walking into a coffee shop when I saw a mom with a stroller and a kindergarten-aged son making the most of her influence.

The mother walked up to a homeless man sitting near another door and asked if he would like a gift card she had for a local pharmacy. She had $15.00 left on it and felt to give the card to him. He was very thankful, stood up to receive it and left.

Making the Most of Your Influence

I spun around, walked right back out the door and told her how impressed I was by her kindness and generosity. When I let her know I thought it was powerful she did this for her son to see, they both smiled big!

Parenting Well Isn’t For The Weak

There’s a famous poem called “Children Learn What They Live”.¹ It has been both an encouragement and a wake-up call for me in years past. As a parent, you influence daily. Children watch your every move…even following you into the washroom at times…but you don’t have to be a parent to be a daily influencer.

“And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.”
Titus 2:7 NLT

If you work in an office, on a farm, in a factory, as an officer of the law…wherever you work, the people around you are watching. Titus reminds us we need to “be an example to people by doing good works of every kind.” That means we’re expected to do a lot of good stuff!

So, give people around you some inspiration for greatness today. Lead the way by example, making the most of your influence!

Prayer

Father…Thank you for leading by example. There’s nothing you ask me to do that you haven’t shown the way. I’m amazed that you want me to influence others for You. Help me to look for opportunities to do good and live in a way that will reflect Your love. In Jesus Name…Amen

Titus 2:7
1 Timothy 4:12
1 Peter 5:3
2 Thessalonians 3:9

If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.

WHERE YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP MY BLOG WITH OR PLACES WHERE MY WRITING HAS BEEN FEATURED

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First Published: July 30, 2017

Desires of Your Heart

In this crazy world of ours, what we might consider as desires of the heart often are so very far from what that really means.

Soul H2O Devotion

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Desires Of Your Heart

Years ago, my friend Marcy Wurch left me a note under the windshield wiper of my car. This timely message encouraged me to look up Psalm 37:4 “in my little pink Bible”. What Marcy didn’t know is that I was in the middle of writing my first book, Water In The Desert and about to quit.

Delight yourself in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart
Psalm 37:4 ESV

Misquoted & Misunderstood

I feel this verse and others like it have been misquoted and misunderstood by many, but as I read the verse and all those surrounding it, I heard loud and clear the message God was trying to speak to my heart.

I remember thinking, “Who am I to write a book”. I mean, I was a fairly recently divorced and remarried woman with a depressed child. That’s the part the enemy kept reminding me about but he was leaving out the part of how I had been overcoming the difficulties life had brought my way with strength in God and a renewed passion for His calling on my life.

Reading this verse reminded me how the desires of my heart to write books actually were from Him, given at a Woman’s Day Apart in my mid-twenties.

The True Meaning

The very word desire hints to the fact that some desires are truly God-given, as the verse says!

The word desire comes from the Old French word desire, which is made up of two root words: ‘de’ meaning ‘of’ and ‘sire’ meaning ‘father’. Quite literally, ‘of the father’.

{If you want to geek out,
you can check the Endnotes
at the bottom for my research
into the etymology of the word.}

The Desires of Your Heart

The enemy may want you to discredit your desires, but if you’ve had a longing that languishes, a wish that won’t leave, a dream that doesn’t die, maybe it’s time to ask if it’s ‘of the father’. When the answer’s ‘yes’, follow the psalmist’s advice in the next verses…

“Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. He will vindicate you in broad daylight, and publicly defend your just cause.” (Psalm 37:5-6 NET Bible)