Kill Your Comfort and Crossover

Whenever we experience a major shift in our lives, it can often feel unsteady. Whether it be a career change, the end of a significant relationship, moving to a new place, it can feel overwhelming like the ground is shifting beneath you. New seasons in our lives can feel scary because we naturally crave what we’re familiar with. We cling to our comfort, even if what we’re comfortable with no longer benefits us. Unconsciously, we can even hold ourselves captive because we want to hold on to what we’re used to, not fully believing that what’s ahead of us is greater than what is behind us.

In the Bible, the story of Exodus captures the Israelites' struggle to embrace the new transition as Moses was leading them out of slavery in Egypt into the promised land. Exodus 14:10-11 (NLT) says, “As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!”

The people of God had grown fatigued on their journey to freedom and were ready to quit. Despite the progress they made, the sight of the enemy made them want to retract because they believed they were too weak to make it. To them, slavery was more comfortable and easier than taking hold of the freedom that was before them. Freedom seemed too risky, so they convinced themselves of the lie that slavery was safer. They didn’t believe that what was ahead of them would be good.

In order to fully embrace your God given purpose, you will be required to take some major risks. You have to kill the comfort that has been keeping you captive all of these years, letting go of those old habits, thought patterns, and environments that have only kept you in cycles, in order to crossover into all that God has in store for you. And you have to believe that your future will be better than your past.

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” Exodus 14:13-14 (NLT).

Do you believe that God is for you? In order to fight the fear of the future and the unknown, you have to trust that God has something greater for you.

“Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them” Exodus 14:19 (NLT).

So often, we get anxious and fearful because we don’t see where God is taking us. We can’t see what lies ahead of us, but this scripture reveals that sometimes the presence of God will move behind us. Especially when God is raising you up as a leader, instead of sending His angels ahead of you, He will transition His angels to stand behind you. Like the Israelites, He is changing your position from a follower to a leader, and He’s sending His hosts of angels to back you up! Let Him train and transform you into the leader that He created you to be. Put your faith in Him and His presence will surround you as you crossover.

Stay encouraged!