Back in 2017, I had a thyroid issue that greatly affected my health for most of that year. It turned out that the issue was not with my thyroid gland, but one of my four parathyroid glands located inside the thyroid gland had stopped doing its job. It took a few months to diagnose the issue, and then a few more months to stabilize the calcium issues caused by the parathyroid issue so that I could then have surgery to remove the disagreeable parathyroid gland. I distinctly remember waking up from the anesthesia after surgery and immediately commenting to Cindy that I felt like a new man. I suddenly felt much better than I had all year, and I looked forward to returning to a more normal life once again.
Before this health issue, I normally slept 7-8 hours every night. After this issue was resolved, I found myself requiring less sleep many nights. Some nights I would wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to go back to sleep. Some nights I might go back to sleep but wake up feeling ready to go on about only 5-6 hours of sleep. I decided either that God must have felt the need to speak more with me than previously in my life, or else I felt the need to speak more to God at this time in my life! So I decided to use this very quiet time in the middle of the night and on days I got up earlier to accept that I needed time with God more than I needed sleep at that moment.
After a few months of this pattern, I discovered a book titled 2 Chairs by author Bob Beaudine, who was a well respected motivational speaker. The book is described as answering 3 questions: Does God know your situation? Is it too hard for Him to handle? Does He have a good plan for you? Following these questions, Bob offers seven practical steps to walk courageously, faithfully, and cheerfully through your trouble whether it is a minor issue or a major crisis. I wrote a TGIF message at that time on this book, and still today recommend the book highly to anyone searching for answers to the above questions.
So you might be asking right now what led me to this message today? The answer to this stimulating question comes from the January 29 devotional in Tim Tebow’s book One-Year Devotional: Mission Possible. The title of that specific devotional is Get in Your Discomfort Zone and is based on the following scripture:
John 13:17 – If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.
Tim states The point is, get uncomfortable. Regularly. Do it with purpose. Discomfort in the short term may produce more comfort in the long run. Instead of cozying up to your comfort zone, discover and hang out in your discomfort zone, whether that’s going for a run, getting up earlier to spend time with God (underline added by me), or socking away the money you were going to spend on another pair of black boots. Get uncomfortable doing things that will transform you into the man or woman you are called to be.
I could have responded to my needing less sleep by taking more sleep aids, which do work well for me when I feel the need for a good night’s sleep. Or I could have resisted God’s approaching me to spend more time with Him. But I chose to follow what I believed was His plan for me and that I needed to draw closer to Him. That plan started in 2017 and continues today for me and my time with God. I can’t tell you how many TGIF messages have come to me in the middle of a night lying awake listening for God to talk to me.
Early this past Monday morning, God woke me up and reminded me of this message from Tim’s devotional, and I knew this was to be this week’s TGIF message. I got up and wrote it immediately, and give all the glory to God for the idea and resulting message.
My Bible commentary states Abraham was called the “friend of God” because he enjoyed extraordinary access to the mind of God through God’s revelation to him which he believed, so also those who follow Christ are privileged with extraordinary revelation through the Messiah and Son of God and believing, become “friends” of God also. It was for His “friends” that the Lord laid down His life.
Is your heart open to hear God when He speaks to you, because He is reaching out to you! Become more comfortable in your “discomfort zone” so you are open to hear God whenever and however He is reaching out to you.
Psalm 85:8 – I will hear what God the Lord will say; for He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones; and may they not turn back to foolishness.
Isaiah 30:21 – Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.