Leaving Our Comfort Zones

After many urban hikes, which could be labeled more as walks, I thought it would be fun to take a real hike, so we started a journey up our first small mountain. We started with about a 3 mile hike, which was fun until we crossed a road. The trail became more difficult to navigate, and the wind felt like it would blow us off the side. The other side of the mountain had been a simple path. We were just walking along enjoying family time. Crossing that road changed everything. I honestly don’t know why we didn’t just cross back over the road and head back the way we came, but if we had, we wouldn’t have our story of overcoming. I wouldn’t have learned that my oldest son was a really intuitive navigator. I wouldn’t have known that all my boys could handle such a challenging route without much complaint. I wouldn’t have known what we could handle as a family. I wouldn’t have known what I could handle in the face of fear. Only two years have passed, and now I can see that moments like the one I experienced with my family opened the doors for the moments I am living now, like hiking 6 miles up a mountain in the Alaskan wilderness, a far cry from the “hill-like” mountain we climbed together.

Our hike required a heightened awareness of my surroundings, including my children. The same is true when I think about the fact that Jesus is coming back. I cannot think of a phrase that more powerfully calls us to wake up than that. This phrase calls us to repentance, to growth, to commitment to see others come to know Him, and to a deep joy at what is to come. These four words draw us, comfort us, and challenge us. The call to wake up, though, indicates that, in some ways, we are asleep. How easy is it to steer clear of the very challenges that will draw us closer to Him and to our purpose?

Romans 13:11 says “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” Looking into the surrounding verses, we see the actions Paul intended for us to take include “putting off the deeds of darkness (Rom 13:12)” and “clothing ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom 13:14).” Likewise, the church in Sardis was warned to wake up and repent, and that if they did not, He would come like a thief (Rev 3:2-3). Revelation 16:15 mirrors these two sections of Scripture so well: “Look, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”

Scripture upon scripture prods us to stay awake while the world around us increasingly tries to lull us back to sleep. I’ve been connected to this idea of awakening since 2020, when I chose the word “awake” for my word of the year. That year’s experiences, like the hike above, woke me up to fears I was mingling with faith and to things I couldn’t have learned about my children or myself  without experiencing some turbulence. If we allow ourselves to be lulled to sleep, we won’t make it where He wants to take us. 

Being awake is life giving, but not without its fair share of challenges. I know well the desire to check out for a moment of “peace.” But what if we didn’t? What if we didn’t check out but rather stayed awake and kept moving forward? As we start this time of fasting and prayer, let’s seek Him and what He wants to awaken in our lives.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

About the Author

My name is Saretta Wells, and I live in Alaska! I've been married to my husband Adam for 13 years, and we have three boys (Austin, Landon, and Hayden). I spend my days homeschooling/homemaking. I enjoy creating and spending time in the kitchen and garden.  I have a real heart for women getting in the whole word of God with confidence that the Holy Spirit will teach them, and I love spurring each other on to obedience. Connect with me at onepassionatemommi.wixsite.com/beloved-1/blog.