When they got into the boat, the wind ceased (Matthew 14:32).

WARNING: I am going to call into question a cherished phrase of Christianese.

GOOD NEWS: you get to decide if I’m right or wrong!  Or somewhere in between.

The phrase is “get out of your comfort zone.”  Maybe it’s because I’ve heard it too often.  Maybe it’s because I am too comfortable.  But at the same time, I think the phrase gets it tangled.  I think Jesus wants to get us into our comfort zone.  Jesus wants us to learn to be comfortable with him.  He wants us to be stable, secure, confident, courageous and at peace because we are walking with him, following him, listening and responding to him, rather than to our circumstances, the voices inside our heads, or the voices from outside.

Wouldn’t you rather be comfortable?

I know, I know: “I’m just not comfortable with that” is the ace we think trumps all others.  It’s one of the main ways we deflect what Jesus says to us.  Fasting, prayer, sharing my faith, learning to interact with folks unlike me, serving unselfishly and sacrificially, being generous with my hard-earned money – “I’m just not comfortable with that.”

Who is more comfortable: the bedraggled, exhausted disciples, soaked and freezing in their boat—or Peter, walking on the water with Jesus?  Did Peter make the stupidest choice ever—it’s stormy, at night, haven’t made any headway for hours, so the obvious smart choice is to get out of the boat?—or the very best choice?

Jesus himself is our comfort zone.  Where he is, when we are both being with him and doing with him, life becomes stabilized, the headwinds are no longer in charge, we can find ourselves at home, at rest, at peace.

The most comfortable place to be in changing and uncertain times is with Jesus.  The problem?  He kinda keeps moving.  Sometimes, he sends us “on ahead,” but absents himself from us for a while.  Sometimes he’s strolling on the water.  Sometimes, he’s in the boat, but sound asleep, while we’re desperately bailing for dear life (Matthew 8:23-27).

If it looks like Jesus isn’t currently “in” your storm-tossed, wind-swept life, start looking for him out there on the water, in the waves.  If he has seemed to have sent you on ahead without him, pay attention to the ways he’s already unexpectedly caught up with you.  If you feel like you’re drowning, pray the world’s most powerful prayer, “Lord, save me!”  And look around for his hand.

To be with him? The most comfortable place there can be!

Try it out over the next day or two: pick an area of your life that is currently uncomfortable for you.  Maybe it’s actually a part of you that you don’t like and that you’re pretty sure Jesus is mightily displeased with as well.  Pay attention to the ways in which he is coming to you, speaking with you, extending his hand towards yours, in answer to that prayer, “Lord, save me!”