Welcome to another foray into free-fall, free-flowing, straight from the heart, as-it-comes writing with Five Minute Friday.
Today's prompt is:'Comfort'
Start...
Comfort
We are addicted to comfort
security and safety hardwired into our systems
ease a priority
sought with urgency.
Solace-seeking in bottles, pills and potions
soothing fragrant oils and lotions.
We are addicted to comfort
loving our tribe
the ones we feel
comfortable with
our inner circles so tight
they are barriers to entry.
We are addicted to comfort
church has cliques
newcomers meet and greet
smiles exchanged
then we spend time
in the company of the familiar.
We are addicted to comfort
wanting life smooth, no rocks
no hard pathways to travel
or pain to endure.
We are addicted to comfort
feeling safe, secure
in what we know
how we live
who we are.
Until...
God rocks our little boat
right out the water
tips us upside down
alters our worldview.
We are addicted to comfort
but it's not about us at all.
It's about leaning into Him,
learning, stretching, growing,
giving and pouring out
lives surrendered, given over;
abiding in the Vine
allowing Him to nourish, strengthen,
enable, equip,
freely received grace freely given
to the uncomfortable ones
who live with hope, expectancy
of seeing change
only God can bring.
only God can bring.
Stop.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3 - 4
Linking here with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday. Do hop over and join in. You're very welcome!
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Love it, Joy!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen! I appreciate your lovely comment. :) xx
Deletetrue true.
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for stopping by to express your agreement with this. Bless you :) x
DeleteI pray the comfort you seek finds you...and you are able to receive it.
ReplyDeleteYou are a dear soul and you deserve to open every blessing which comes your way.
T
What a kind thought! In many ways it already has. This was written with a universal viewpoint in mind. I am learning more and more to receive comfort from God rather than seeking it in external things. Thanks very much for this lovely comment :) xx
DeleteRight. A few things:
ReplyDelete1. I so want to sit on one of those chairs with you, Joy, glass of wine (white, maybe, chilled?) and the peace and perfection of one of His best sunsets to enjoy while we chat.
2. I read this and the part about 'rocking the boat' - suddenly my head is flooded with an idea of something I really want to write, but it's school pick up time and I have one small one at home poorly at the moment and so, please, God, let me hang onto that inspiration...
3. Nobody I know expresses a beautifully simple but endlessly complex thought as beautifully as you.
Thank you. Praying that He showers you with blessings.
x
Oh, I like it when you get bossy, Helen, (albeit in a nice friendly way of course) and I love this comment! Definitely chilled white wine, peace, rocking chairs perhaps, sunset, enjoying the view and the great company. Do hope you were able to hang on to the inspiration. Notepads everywhere are a boon. The compliment is humbly and gratefully received, as is the sweet prayer. Thank you so much, my friend. One day I'll take you up on the offer here! Blessings in abundance :) xx
DeleteDear Joy
ReplyDeleteIt is so true how true comfort can only be found as we learn to lean into the Source of all comfort. Only as I rest in Him, do I truly enjoy comfort even during the worst trials of life. It is a deep spiritual comfort and abiding, don't you think!
Blessings from FMF
Mia
Hi Mia. Thanks very much for taking the time and trouble to stop by and leave one of your insightful and truly delightful comments! Love and blessings to you :) xx
DeleteBeautiful just simply beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHi Amy. Thank you so much for your sweet comment. It is greatly appreciated. Bless you :) x
DeleteSo true. How easy to get addicted...
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Kaye. I am at risk of it all the time. It takes a while before we seek the Comforter first and foremost. Thank you. Blessings :) x
DeleteThat was fabulous!
ReplyDeleteHi Shelley. Lovely to see you here! Thanks very much for stopping by to leave such a lovely encouraging comment. I really appreciate it! Bless you :) xx
DeleteSomehow I just feel like I need to say, "Amen. Amen. AMEN!!!" Addicted to comfort and God is busting that addition right up and it's uncomfortable. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteOh go on then, Alene! I'll join you..Amen, Amen, AMEN!! Yes, we sadly are addicted to comfort a lot of the time. Though, as you say, "God is busting that addiction right up and it's uncomfortable". A good discomfort so we only look to Him for our soul's ease above all else. Bless you for this great encouragement, my friend. I really appreciate it! :) xx
DeleteEvery week, Joy. You do it every week. You write beauty. You take a blank page and paint beauty on it with words.
ReplyDeleteSue, you have succeeded in rendering me speechless (a rare event) with your poetic, grace-filled words. I am happy beyond measure if God is using these words to bring blessing to others. For that is my aim. Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know how you feel. I am truly thankful. Blessings :) xx
DeleteHi Joy! It is so hard to give up comfortable. I think I'm a slow learner. Your words are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, Brianna. It so often feels like I am preaching to myself here! Thanks very much for leaving a lovely comment that has blessed my heart. :) xx
DeleteSimply beautiful, sometimes we need to be pushed out of our comfort zone and there we find the true meaning of life.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Kath. God seems to be doing that to me all the time! As you so rightly say, "there we find the true meaning of life" in the stretching and growing. Bless you :) xx
Delete