Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone By Michelle Rocker

Why? Why is it when I am comfortable does God feel the need to push me out of my comfort zone?

I hate being in front of people. I get such major anxiety, it is ridiculous. Most people have no idea I feel this way, but I do. I’ve learned to push through and ignore it and shove the nausea back down my throat. I’m a piano player. I’m a singer. I’ve been on stages and platforms and worship teams since I was thirteen. However, something always comes over me when I truly worship. I have peace and I forget about all the people. I feel God’s presence and I’m okay.

Last year, I was enjoying all my kids being in school and getting some time back to myself. But nope...that was comfortable. Without going into great detail, it became obvious that God was asking me to home school two of my children. I panicked. I didn’t want to. But I knew if it was God’s idea and not mine. He would get me through it, and He has. It has been the biggest blessing.

So, why does God put me in uncomfortable situations? Here are some verses that may answer that question.

Psalm 23:4: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 119:76: May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

Isaiah 51:12: “I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass,

2 Corinthians 1:3-7: 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 receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.

Revelation 3:16: So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

God’s Motivation By Michelle Rocker

Did you know that God is not motivated by fear? What motivates God? What moves the heart of God?

I was sitting in a service listening to a preacher and when he stated, “God is not motivated by fear.” I got distracted after that thinking about what motivates God. Verses from the Bible began to come to me.

1 John 4:18: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Romans 8:38-39: For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 3:1a: See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Ephesians 2:4-5: But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

My conclusion? God is motivated by LOVE. John 3:16, is the ultimate proof of my conclusion. God was moved/motivated by love that he GAVE us his Son to die for our sins. The idea that my Creator, the God of the entire universe, loves me to this extent....wow! I am humbled, grateful, and overwhelmed.