“Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.” Acts 8:4 NKJV.
God permits situations beyond your custom and convenience.
My thoughts and comments today are about “spiritual discomfiture.”
“Discomfiture,” is defined as, “a feeling of unease, uncomfortableness.” At times, God will permit spiritual discomfiture to dislodge you from comfortable places for more than you could accomplish if you remained as you were or where you were. Unwanted or unexpected changes are discomfiting. Since Pentecost, the Church at Jerusalem had seen noticeable growth, and with that came a notoriety that was not so favorable. “At that time a great persecution arose against the Church which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions . . therefore, those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word.” Comfortable people don’t make inconvenient changes, except by necessity.
Their dispersion was involuntary, prompted by circumstances contrary to their wishes or control. What was previously comfortable for them was presently in contrast with God’s purpose. There were eternal plans of which they were not yet aware. Before His ascension, Jesus specifically instructed, “You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8.
Content within their current boundaries, the Jerusalem believers could not fully accomplish God’s will for the extension of the Gospel, “to the end of the earth.” And consider, this persecution and geographical disbursing of believers would ultimately result in the unparalleled conversion of the Church’s primary persecutor, Saul of Tarsus, who would become an apostle and most prolific author of the New Testament. Read Acts 9:1-6.
God was serious about His intention for those first century Christians. Apparently, God is just as serious about orchestrating your life into His purposes and plans. His promise remains sure, “The plans I have for you are plans for your good . . to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT. A future without hope is empty; hope without a future is futility. I add my Amen to David, “As for God, His way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.” Psalm 18:30 NLT.
(1) God is more invested in your eternal contribution than your current comfort. Jesus warned, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth . . but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven . . for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21 NIV. God will make every effort to include you in what has eternal significance and enduring fulfillment.
(2) God permits situations beyond your custom and convenience. God allowed circumstances that stretched those early disciples beyond their customary routines and into the direction of His purposes. The uncomfortable experience for those Christians was persecution. Fleeing Jerusalem for their own, and their family’s safety, they discovered unforeseen opportunities. Everywhere they went, they were preaching about Jesus.
(3) God purposes only what will be for your good, and the good of others. Closed doors can be the Lord’s protection; open doors can be the Lord’s provision. Today, persecution is not likely to be the impetus to push you or me to new horizons. More likely that may be an unexpected disruption of carefully made plans, or inexplicable discontentment that opens your heart to new possibilities, or a turn of events you had not foreseen that introduces a new and fulfilling direction.
Until discomfort where you are becomes greater than the anxiety of moving onward, you will remain where you are, doing what you’ve done. That is not at all what God wills for you, providing neither progress nor growth.
Today, I pray for you to embrace any temporary discomfort to gain an enduring satisfaction.