Comfort Zone
I find it confusing when I go into a doctor for medical care and they ask 'so, how are you today?' or 'what can I do for you?' or a similar 'what do you need?'
The answers, at least in my mind go something like, obviously I don't feel well, that's how I am today. If I knew what you could do for me, I would either have stayed home, and done it for myself or realized I was beyond hope.
Lastly, what do I need? Someone smarter than myself (since I don't know what I need), someone who is honest and knows how to do something besides dispense pills. Like someone who knows how to process symptoms and develop an effective treatment.
Another situation I find interesting is how many people develop problems. It may be health problems or relationship problems, but either way it is covered with the term 'problem'.
You meet a friend and ask them how life is treating them. "Oh, it's fine. I'm doing fine." But as you observe them they obviously aren't 'fine'. You recognize a physical malady, something that should have sent them to the doctor, and you wonder, what? Fine?
Well the person explains they've gotten used to whatever it is. Even if it gives them problems, they've gotten used to it and they just carry on.
Comfort zone. I've seen people who exist in painful situations, yet they've been in them so long they've become used to the situation and it has become normal for them.
Instead of healing the situation ie. if it's physical finding a correct treatment, or if it's a relationship changing it, they pretend it is normal.
I'm not saying 'do whatever makes you happy'. I'm saying do what makes you whole. God has given us parameters. Somethings are right and somethings are wrong. Don't do the things that are wrong. That may not at that moment make you happy.
But doing the wrong thing is never right. Or, 'it is never right to do a wrong thing'. That would take care of many problems.
On a farm you have a number of different types of animals. We've had dogs and cats that get along well together, and others who fight like...well, cats and dogs.
It makes me shake my head in wonder when cats would allow the dogs to treat them like a chew toy. The dogs weren't mean. They didn't intend to kill the cat, but it didn't take long and no matter the intention, the cat was dead.
To be honest, the users, the abusers, the whiners, the winners, each type is evident. No matter how slick a Willy may be, they can be spotted with God's discernment. A relationship with any of the negative traits is going to end badly.
Physical ailments can and do happen to the best of people, but we don't have to sign up for an added bonus of suffering.
Two of the most important decisions anyone will ever make are number one, to obey God in repentance and baptism, and number two, who you commit to marry.
Number one is your steering committee, number two is your lifelong partner who will either be a help or a hindrance.
Don't get into a comfort zone that is uncomfortable or ungodly.
Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14) For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15) And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16) But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."
