We live in a world where comfort comes first, safety is prioritized and the fear of the unknown shuffles us into places where we know we’ll be okay. If a task is too hard we can give it a try, but if it’s still too hard, maybe someone else should do it instead. There’s comfort in doing the familiar and doing it well, without the discomfort of failing or being ridiculed.

We seek comfort because it’s a natural thing. Where do we turn to when the challenges of everyday life surround us? Do we replace our discomfort with whatever is easiest or whatever the top influencer says will make us feel good, or do we lean into the challenge with the assurance that we have the ultimate source of comfort and hope?

How often do we turn to those we know will agree with us? If we disagree with someone or can’t find the words to help a struggling person, we’ll change topics. It’s easier to steer the conversation into calm waters where we don’t risk rocking the boat and sending someone into the waves. Since there are always pressing problems and challenges of life in a modern world, there are always choices in how we respond. We can avoid the discomfort by replacing it with something else, or we can solve it with the ultimate comfort and source of hope.

Let’s talk about avoiding discomfort. It is easy to turn to physical things such as food, alcohol or sex to bring us comfort. The immediate physical satisfaction can distract us from what’s uncomfortable. It's a mask that covers the situation, casting it in a shadow that makes us feel like it isn't there. It's a relief to have a break from that burden — but eventually, the curtain rises back up and we are forced to confront the thing we left behind for worldly, immediate satisfaction. We quickly pull it back down when we are face-to-face with it again and the cycle continues. The discomfort still remains and we keep trying to solve it with temporary comforts the world claims will cure us of our fear, our anxiety, our depression…the list goes on.

Having favorite foods, activities, music and friends are wonderful gifts. Still, these are only temporary comforts. We need to be aware of the short timespan of some of the comforts we turn to and not only look at our stronger, everlasting comfort, but why we are turning to them. It's a challenge to dig a little deeper, but it can be a blessing to understand it, too.

We can seek comfort in emotional and mental ways to help us cope with overwhelming stress and anxiety. There's a trend in our culture that calls us to self-care. I am all for relaxation because I believe it’s healthy to take some time to decompress and take a break from the busyness that fills our days. For me, I enjoy running — others may like spa days. The comfort part here again looks like prioritizing yourself, turning to something comfortable. There’s nothing wrong with that by itself, but if there’s a deeper issue, you need a deeper solution. For example, if you had a hole in the wall, you couldn’t cover it with a flimsy piece of tape and paint over it. It would be covered but it wouldn’t be strong. The appearance would be that the wall is complete, but the hole is still there. One poke in the right spot and the gaping hole would return. We need to fill the holes in our walls, our hearts, our lives with something — what do we turn to meet those needs?

We can fill those holes with physical things or temporary fixes, but the best solution and comfort we as believers can turn to is the sovereignty and peace of God.

I want to encourage us all to process our circumstances and grieve and heal how we need to, but with the understanding that God’s love and hand in everything is the ultimate reprieve in a world that tends to look elsewhere for comfort.

Seeking Comfort