Embracing the Unfamiliar: God's Call to Growth

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Goal Is Greater Than Our Comfort

God’s purpose for us is not mere survival or comfort, but to draw us into relationship with Him and to save souls for eternity. In a world filled with violence, uncertainty, and tragedy, it is easy to become distracted, fearful, or even angry. Yet, God’s higher goal is to shape us through these hardships, calling us to lift our eyes above the temporary and to focus on loving our neighbor, our family, the stranger, and even our enemies. When we become consumed by the world’s chaos, we risk neglecting the very people and opportunities God has placed before us. Instead of being overwhelmed by what we cannot control, we are called to faithfully love those around us, trusting that God’s eternal purposes are at work even in the midst of difficulty. [31:48]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV)
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Reflection: In what specific way can you shift your focus from your own comfort or survival to intentionally loving a neighbor, family member, or even an enemy today?

Day 2: The Trap of Familiar Sin and the Call to Change

We often return to familiar patterns of sin, laziness, or conflict because they feel comfortable—even when we know they are destructive. Like a dog returning to its vomit or a pig to the mud, we slip back into old routines, whether it’s complaining, arguing, or procrastinating in our relationships with God and others. True repentance is not just quitting a sin, but learning to live without the routines and comforts that sin provided. This process feels strange and uncomfortable at first, but God calls us to break free from these cycles and embrace the unfamiliar path of righteousness, even when it feels distressing or awkward. [47:47]

2 Peter 2:22 (ESV)
What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

Reflection: What is one familiar but unhealthy pattern you keep returning to, and what is one practical step you can take today to break that cycle and pursue something better?

Day 3: The Consequences of Deliberate Sin and the Restlessness It Brings

When we knowingly continue in sin after receiving the truth, we forfeit peace and are left with a fearful expectation and constant anxiety. Even as believers, if we ignore what we know is right, our lives become marked by tension, dread, and a lack of rest. God warns that living for ourselves and clinging to the familiar leads only to frustration and despair, not the rest and satisfaction we long for. Yet, He offers a different way—a life of obedience and trust that brings true rest for our souls, even in the midst of hardship. [57:45]

Hebrews 10:26-27 (ESV)
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Reflection: Is there an area where you are knowingly ignoring God’s call to change? What is one step you can take today to move from restless anxiety to obedient trust?

Day 4: The Pain and Promise of God’s Discipline

God’s discipline is never pleasant in the moment, but it is designed to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who are trained by it. The process of change, growth, and reconciliation—whether in our relationship with God or with others—often feels painful and unfamiliar. It is tempting to run from conflict or discomfort, but if we persevere, God promises that our efforts will not be in vain. The path of the righteous may begin dimly, but it grows brighter as we continue to walk in obedience, learning to love and commit to one another even when it’s hard. [01:00:06]

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV)
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reflection: Where are you experiencing God’s discipline or discomfort in your life right now, and how can you choose to persevere rather than run away?

Day 5: Excelling in the Lord’s Work, Not Just Avoiding Failure

We are called not just to avoid sin, but to excel in the work of the Lord—growing in skill, heart, and commitment as we serve Him and others. This means moving beyond a mindset of simply “not messing up” and instead striving to do good, even when it feels awkward or unfamiliar. Whether it’s reaching out to a stranger, deepening a friendship, or serving in a new way, God promises that our labor in Him is never in vain. As we put off old habits and put on new ones, we discover that the unfamiliar path leads to hope, growth, and lasting joy. [01:15:47]

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Reflection: What is one area of serving God or others where you feel inexperienced or uncomfortable, and how can you take a step to “excel” in it today rather than just avoiding mistakes?

Sermon Summary

In a world that feels increasingly chaotic and violent, it’s easy to become overwhelmed, fearful, or distracted by the troubles around us. Yet, God’s purposes are far higher than our own comfort or survival; His aim is to draw us into relationship with Him and to save souls for eternity. When we focus on the immediate—our safety, our routines, our comfort—we risk missing the deeper work God wants to do in us and through us. The call is to lift our eyes above the turmoil and set our hearts on things above, trusting that God’s plans are good even when they lead us through discomfort or unfamiliar territory.

We are all prone to seek what is familiar, even if it’s not good for us. Whether it’s conflict in relationships, laziness in our spiritual lives, or routines that keep us from real change, we often return to what we know because it feels safe. But God calls us to something better: to labor for Him, to love our neighbors, and to pursue righteousness even when it feels strange or difficult. True rest and satisfaction come not from escaping work or hardship, but from pursuing the right things—God’s things—even when it’s hard.

Scripture reminds us that discipline and change are rarely pleasant at first. Like Elijah, who was exhausted and afraid, we may want to give up when the journey is too much. But God provides what we need for the next step, and as we persist, He produces a harvest of righteousness and peace in us. Relationships, both with God and others, require commitment and effort, especially when personalities or backgrounds differ. The church is a training ground for this kind of love and perseverance, preparing us to be witnesses in a world that is even more challenging.

Excelling in the Lord’s work means more than just avoiding mistakes; it means actively seeking to grow, to serve, and to love, even when it feels awkward or unfamiliar. We are called to put off old patterns and put on new ones, trusting that God’s way, though hard at first, leads to life and hope. Don’t settle for the comfort of the familiar if it leads to spiritual stagnation or fear. Instead, embrace the hard work of change, knowing that your labor in the Lord is never in vain.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Goal Is Greater Than Our Comfort God’s highest aim is not our ease or survival, but our transformation and the salvation of souls. When we focus only on our comfort, we miss the eternal perspective God wants us to have. The trials and discomforts we face are often the very means God uses to draw us closer to Him and to shape us for His purposes. Trusting God’s higher goal helps us endure and find meaning in hardship. [31:48]
2. The Familiar Can Be a Trap We often cling to routines, habits, or even unhealthy relational patterns simply because they are familiar, not because they are good. This tendency can keep us stuck in cycles of sin, conflict, or spiritual laziness. Real change feels uncomfortable at first, but it is necessary for growth and freedom. Recognizing and resisting the pull of the familiar is a crucial step toward spiritual maturity. [42:53]
3. Deliberate Sin Leads to Fear and Restlessness When we knowingly persist in sin or neglect what we know is right, we forfeit the peace and rest God offers. Instead, we experience anxiety, fear, and a sense of suspense about life’s uncertainties. This is not God’s desire for us; He wants us to walk in the freedom and assurance that comes from obedience and repentance. The way out is to face the hard work of change, trusting in God’s mercy and strength. [57:45]
4. True Fellowship Requires Commitment and Effort Deep, meaningful relationships—whether in marriage, friendship, or church—don’t happen by accident or shared interests alone. They are forged through commitment, honest confrontation, and a willingness to work through differences. The church is a place to practice this kind of love, preparing us to be witnesses in a world that is even more challenging. Don’t run from relational discomfort; let God use it to grow you. [73:33]
5. Excelling in the Lord Means Embracing the Unfamiliar Spiritual growth often feels awkward, hard, or even scary at first. Whether it’s reading Scripture, praying, or stepping out to serve, the unfamiliar can tempt us to quit. But God calls us to persist, to put off old habits, and to put on new ones, trusting that He will produce fruit in us. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain, and the discomfort of change is the path to true peace and joy. [81:22]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[31:48] - God’s Higher Goal in Our Trials
[33:47] - Choosing Your Labor: For Self or for God
[41:06] - Recognizing Spiritual Laziness and Procrastination
[42:53] - The Trap of Familiarity in Relationships
[44:14] - Busyness, Rest, and the Unfamiliar
[46:15] - Breaking Unhealthy Routines
[47:47] - The Challenge of Real Change
[48:48] - Why We Return to Old Patterns
[50:26] - The Consequences of Deliberate Sin
[56:51] - Living in Perpetual Sin and God’s Grace
[57:45] - The Restlessness of Disobedience
[60:06] - The Pain and Fruit of Discipline
[62:14] - Practicing Fellowship in the Church
[73:33] - Building Deep Spiritual Friendships
[74:55] - The Unfamiliarity of Spiritual Practices
[75:47] - Excelling in the Lord’s Work
[77:30] - Playing to Win, Not Just to Avoid Failure
[81:22] - Embracing Change and the Promise of Growth
[83:17] - Practical Steps for Change
[84:27] - Don’t Return to the Mud: Choose Hope
[85:39] - Closing and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Kings 19:1-8 (ESV) — > Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

Hebrews 12:11 (ESV) — > For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) — > Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Observation Questions

In 1 Kings 19, what was Elijah’s emotional and physical state after Jezebel threatened him? What did God do for Elijah in his distress?
According to Hebrews 12:11, what is the immediate experience of discipline, and what does it eventually produce?
In the sermon, what are some examples given of how people tend to return to familiar but unhealthy routines or patterns? ([42:53])
What does 1 Corinthians 15:58 say about the results of laboring for the Lord?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Elijah, after such a great victory, became so discouraged and afraid? What does this reveal about even the most faithful believers? ([31:48])
The sermon says that “the familiar can be spiritually dangerous.” Why is it so hard to step out of unhealthy routines, even when we know they are not good for us? ([42:53])
According to the sermon, what is the difference between simply avoiding sin and actively pursuing good? Why is this distinction important for spiritual growth? ([01:15:47])
How does the church community serve as a “training ground” for learning to love and serve others, even when it’s uncomfortable? ([01:13:33])

Application Questions

The sermon challenges us to consider whether we are seeking comfort and familiarity over God’s higher purposes. Is there an area in your life where you are choosing what is comfortable over what is right or needed? What would it look like to step into the unfamiliar for God’s sake? ([31:48])
Think about a routine or habit in your life that you know is unhealthy or spiritually unhelpful. What is one small, specific step you could take this week to break that pattern and replace it with something godly? ([47:47])
When have you experienced the “pain” of discipline or change in your walk with God? Did you see any fruit or growth come from it later? Share a specific example. ([01:00:06])
The sermon talks about the restlessness and fear that come from deliberate sin or ignoring what we know is right. Is there something you feel God is calling you to change or confess, but you’ve been putting it off? What is holding you back? ([57:45])
In your relationships—whether in your family, friendships, or church—are there ways you tend to avoid conflict or uncomfortable conversations? How might God be inviting you to “labor” for deeper love and unity, even if it feels awkward or hard? ([01:13:33])
The pastor shared about friendships in the church that were built not on shared interests, but on shared commitment to Christ. Is there someone in your church or group you feel distant from, but could reach out to in a new way this week? What would it look like to take a step toward deeper fellowship? ([01:13:33])
The sermon encourages us not just to “stop sinning,” but to “put on” new, godly habits. What is one area where you want to excel in the Lord’s work, even if it feels unfamiliar or you feel unqualified? What is a first step you can take? ([01:21:22])

Sermon Clips

As this world gets more and more violent like that, we have to remember as believers that the Lord has a higher goal than we have. We tend to have a goal of survival, of comfort and ease. That is not God's goal. His goal is to save souls for all of eternity and to draw us into relationship. And that is going to come in very hard ways at times because we are very hard people. We are people who do not easily succumb to the spiritual, do not easily think beyond ourselves. [00:31:32]

We have to be, in one sense, mindful of having our minds on things above, our hearts set on things above rather than the things of this world because it's very easy to get set on this world. So I ask again, and I want you to answer with it. yourself how are you in your relationship with the lord how are you doing spiritually how are you doing in terms of your decisions because your decisions going forward are going to dictate in many ways how you live how you respond to these things how you feel even day to day if you live in fear or anger or peace even in this midst of these things. [00:33:30]

Keep in mind that we can get to the place where we let the world get so big that you want to solve and deal with every problem out there and all the enemy wants you to do is get focused on a bunch of things that you can do nothing about so that you neglect the things that god has actually called you to do so love your neighbor love your family love the stranger that you come across love your enemies these are the things god commands us and these are the things god gives us opportunities in various ways so don't don't be surprised at the fiery trials don't be surprised that the anger and violence in this world this is what this world is and this is why christ came to save us from it. [00:34:36]

You will be laboring either for yourself or for the Lord. You will be laboring for your own comforts, your own desires, your own pride, your own goals, or you'll be laboring for the Lord. But as the notes go on, sadly, we usually choose that fantasy of the immediate sense of familiarity, comfort, laziness, and procrastination, even knowing it results in the same frustrations. [00:39:43]

I want us to recognize where we procrastinate, where we, we tend towards the familiar, where we are lazy in our relationships with each other and our relationship with the Lord because it shows up there a lot. Cause again, we can, we can quantify how lazy you are with your dishes by how full the sink is. True. How many of you would kind of go, yes. You know, like, you know, your sink gets full, you know, it's time to do the dishes. So it goes, well, I've may have been a little lazy lately. We can kind of quantify that. If you procrastinate too long, it's, it's when the dishes are no longer dishes, but they are, are, are, uh, Petri dishes. You know, you've procrastinated too long when things are growing up and off the dish. [00:41:06]

We become familiar and we lend ourselves to that because anything outside that familiarity, even if what we're familiar with is unpleasant, anything that's not familiar, we find distressing. Think of it this way. Now I know some of you would, you know, you got all kinds of reasons and I get it, but if you're used to being in conflict with your spouse or your family and one day one family member or your spouse decides to be nice, this does not comfort you. This makes you what? Uncomfortable, suspicious, going what's going on, right? Because we immediately go, this is not what I'm used to. [00:43:02]

We tend to not want to do the work to get to fit, but we'd want that. But see, even in that, it's, oh, well, this is a new routine. Oh, that's hard. That's difficult. It's not fun. Something comes up and it's just easy to go right back to the life you had. And we do this in our relationships. I'm not going to complain anymore. I'm not going to look at pornography anymore. You know what? I'm not going to lie anymore. You know what? I'm going to be kind now. I'm not going to be mean anymore. I'm not going to... And we do all these things as if that alone will make it happen. I've just decided I'm not going to do that. And then we...slip right back into it and we become a dog returning to the vomit we know where it ends up. [00:49:53]

What's blessed, the work of the lord is a good thing it produces good things for us but it's unfamiliar it feels strange to us and it actually distresses us when we start to do it. [00:51:01]

More often than not how many of us live our lives trying to distract ourselves from the very thing we really need to do the very thing and i'm not talking about the tasks the chores i'm talking about the relationship issues within our lives within our marriage within the church within our jobs whatever place but we often want to get distracted from those things rather than come to the realization i would dare say and guys don't take this wrong but i would dare say even the tragedies of the news often are are loved because it distracts us from our own tragedies we'd rather live off of someone else's tragedy and go well at least mine's not as bad as that and we we delve into that rather than taking care of the things we need to it happens. [00:52:36]

How many of us go deliberately sinning and then we wonder why we're always fearful why we're always tense why we're always living in suspense why we are terrified of the very next tragedy that might come and maybe this time will come for me why do we think that way because a lot of us as christians have knowledge of what we should be doing but we've decided i'm not doing it and all that you have left at that point is a fearful expectation. [00:54:57]

If you deliberately go on sinning, even when you have knowledge of truth, that is, you know, you're not doing what's right. You know, your attitude's wrong. You know, your actions are, are left unchecked, or you know, there's things that you're supposed to be doing. You know, you know, you know, because then all that's going to remain is something eating and gnawing at you. And this is how we live our life. Probably 90 % of the time. [00:57:23]

The scary part is guys, this is so many believers. When we have the salvation of Christ, we have an advocate with the father. We have forgiveness of sins. We are free and there is no condemnation. And yet this is how we experience life. It is. It shouldn't be right. That's what Judith is saying. It shouldn't be that way. In the morning, you will say, if only it were evening in the evening, if only it were morning, how many of you are always looking for the next thing to just distract from the now? Because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see. [00:58:45]

If we're living for this life, you're going to miss out on what God does. But we still choose it because it feels like we get some kind of control over it. It feels familiar. It feels like it's hopeless to try. It feels like it's better just to give up and live in the despair and the anger and the fear. It feels more familiar because that's what we're used to. But God says there's a different way. [00:59:38]

No discipline seems pleasant at the time. Duh, right? When you're being disciplined, it's not pleasant. But I love that God put this in there because now I can go, oh, okay. So I'm not supposed to be like, this is a pleasure. Every time I face discipline, I just love it. No, it's not pleasant. Right? It's not pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who've been trained by it. [01:00:12]

If you're looking for the perfect atmosphere for yourself, you're never going to find it in any church. And I'll even say this church. You're not going to find it here, because you're going to find other sinners here. I'm sorry, Judith, you're a sinner, right? You're going to find other sinners, and they're going to rub you wrong, and they're going to hurt you, and they're going to fail you, they're going to disappoint you. But that is why God has his fellowship. It's not just so that we feel good about each other, but so that we get to practice with each other of how to deal with each other in a loving way. [01:01:57]

We look for friendships because it's easy we like the same things we enjoy the same events we want to do all this instead of going no I have the same Lord that's enough and whether I really like the things you like or not we're gonna get to know each other and serve each other and love each other and let me tell you one of my closest friends is defined by the fact that we have nothing but the Lord in common literally. [01:10:54]

One of the things that I note with friendship is one thing is we're committed to the Lord and we're committed to each other. It's the commitment. And how do you get there? Well, you have to work at it. And this is where he says it's not pleasant at a time, but later on it produces something. [01:13:45]

You start reading the scriptures. It'll be unfamiliar. It'll be weird. I mean, you start reading the scriptures and the words that are used, the vernacular. I don't care if you read, like, the New Living Translation. You will read things where you're like, that is not normal, the way they're describing things. All right, because it's not written with a Western mindset. It's written with an Eastern mindset, and it's very different than ours. And so you would read it and go, this is weird. It's unfamiliar. Don't quit. Work at it. [01:14:11]

Praying. That is weird. How many of you have ever felt like praying is weird? You know, it's one thing to throw up like the, thank you for this food, amen, kind of prayer. Doing that in public is a little awkward. But doing that for real, like, when you sit down or kneel down or something, and you commit yourself to prayer, it's almost like, what am I doing? I'm just talking. Do I talk with this tone? Or do I talk with this tone? Or do I talk with this tone? Or do I talk with this tone? And you start doing, and you're not even talking. You're just thinking in your head, but you have to have a tone in your head to talk to God. And have you ever noticed that with yourself? Listen to yourself pray sometime in your head. Sometimes you'll be like, this is how I talk. And then in my head, it's like, dear God, you know, and it's like, is that me? Is that me? Is that how I sound? Is that, you know, like, we're weird. And it's like, I don't, but it's unfamiliar. So we quit. It's like, I'm not a prayer warrior. That's for better prayers than me. No, you're just quitting because it's unfamiliar. [01:14:42]

If we're going to serve the Lord, you can't live your life trying not to mess up. You live your life trying not to mess up, you are going to mess up. Not because it's just inevitable, it's just you're going to mess up, period. But if you're so focused on not messing up, saying just the right thing at just the right time, in just the right way, so that people think you're great, and that so people think you have wisdom, and people, you're going to constantly be stepping on your own toes, eating the foot of your, in your mouth, you know, I mean, like, you're just, it's going to, like this, you're going to do that. You're going to just constantly mess up. But if you just go, you know what, it doesn't matter if I mess up or not, it doesn't matter if I fail or not, I'm going to seek to do God's will, I'm going to seek to do good, I'm going to excel in the work of the Lord. [01:18:16]

If you're so focused on not messing up, saying just the right thing at just the right time, in just the right way, so that people think you're great, and that so people think you have wisdom, and people, you're going to constantly be stepping on your own toes, eating the foot of your, in your mouth, you know, I mean, like, you're just, it's going to, like this, you're going to do that. You're going to just constantly mess up. But if you just go, you know what, it doesn't matter if I mess up or not, it doesn't matter if I fail or not, I'm going to seek to do God's will, I'm going to seek to do good, I'm going to excel in the work of the Lord. [01:18:30]

If you don't try, if you don't make the excelling effort, it's always going to end up in a fearful expectation. Instead of going, you know, I'm just going to get better at what I know what I'm doing right now. I know how to read the Bible. I'll just read that better. I'll start to understand more. Or I pray pretty well. I'm going to pray more. You know what? I'm actually pretty good at helping with kids. I'm going to do that better. You know, I'm good at just sitting and listening. Then sit and listen. But you keep excelling. And what does he say? Instead of fearful expectation, what happens? Because you know, look, 1 Corinthians 15, 58, always excelling in the Lord's work because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. In other words, it comes to something. [01:20:27]

We've got to stop being afraid of excelling in the Lord and stop getting our heads on the things of this world. Rather, start to serve the Lord and do good as best you can. Even if it's unfamiliar, even if you're really bad at it, even if it's something that's hard because it feels weird because you need that cigarette in your hand or you need that cup of coffee or you're so used to conflict that you don't know what to do otherwise. You're so used to complaining that you don't know what to say. Try to say something thankful then. Don't just stop sinning. Replace it with something as he says in Ephesians 4. Put off the old man. Be made new in the attitude of your mind and put on the new man which is created to be like Christ Jesus. [01:21:26]

Whatever you're convicted on right now and going, boy, I need to do something about it. Don't give up because it feels weird when you start trying. Fight through it and go, there's hope on the other side of this. It's not in vain. I will continue to excel in this because if I do. [01:22:29]

What I'm saying is whatever you're convicted in, be it easy or be it hard, be it feel like, oh, but I'm losing control or, ah, I'll look stupid or, ah, this could go bad. If you know what the good you're supposed to do and you don't do it, you're deliberately sinning and it'll just cause more fear. But when you start doing the good you ought to, even though it starts out feeling scary, you know what starts happening after you keep doing it? You start going, God knows what he's talking about. This is pretty good. That ended up way better. [01:23:47]

We think we know so much and we stay in the familiar and we come back to the same result. And what does Einstein say about doing the same thing, expecting a different result? Insanity, right? Whoever said it, Einstein. But let me tell you, the Bible puts it this way. You're like a pig returning to the mud. You're like a dog returning to vomit. And that's a weird picture none of us want to live out, is it? [01:24:38]

You're going to be working hard either way. Why choose the hard that results in destruction and death instead of choosing the hard that has hope for something better coming? This is what we're called to. This is the hope God has called us to. This is the promise he has before us. Don't go back to the mud. Don't eat your own vomit. Change. Accept the unfamiliar and the hard, knowing that it's going to be good. Someday it's going to be good. Oh, it may take a while. But someday. [01:25:14]

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