Daily Devotional, October 10, 2023 Excruciating Rescue

"And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them." ISAIAH 42:16

Whenever we hear the word “rescue,” we immediately think of precarious situations and emergencies, where the one being rescued is in clear and present danger. But in our lives, there are crucial “rescues” that do not even involve distress or trauma. These rescues are free from drama, because the “victim” is not in pain, but having the time of his life in his comfort zone.

When we are in our comfort zones, we are oblivious to the long-term consequences of our actions and chosen lifestyle. We do not see that our daily pursuits are nothing but ticking time bombs that will shred our soul to pieces. We are, after all, happy and on cloud nine. Why would we need anyone to get us out of it? But the truth is, these comfort zones do not just prevent us from growing, it also puts us far from the Lord.

While the word “comfort zone” could not be found in the bible, the same description of this state has been repeated in it many times. God asked Abram to get out of His so that he could be the Father of all Nations (“So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran” GENESIS 12:4). And because of obedience, He lived through seeing the Lord’s promises to fruition.

God also nudged Moses to leave his comfort zone and lead Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Of course Moses made excuses (“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?” EXODUS 3:11), but in the end he abided.

In our lives, we will experience excruciating yet non-dramatic rescues from possible long-term problems. Maybe we have experienced it already but have not thought of it that way. We are suddenly reassigned to another work location, where if not for the transfer, we could have been involved in life-altering dilemmas like sexual immorality, grave misconduct, or breach in employee ethics. The consequences of such could affect our children and marriage, finances, and work records.

We could also be possibly redirected to cease our bad eating habits and live healthier by suffering an illness that could have been worse if we were not to seek medical intervention and lifestyle change. Another excruciating redemption is the death of a relationship that could otherwise lead to a stressful life decades later.

All of the above cause immediate pain, even trauma, hence we resist being rescued because living that “good life” is excruciatingly sad and painful for us. But we should always remember that God is sovereign and He does not waste any of our painful experiences and tears (“Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.” JOB 37:13). Blessings in disguise usually mean long term peace and joy that follows short term pain and drama.

As long as we know who is in control, and we abide by Him, we should not be afraid where He leads us, because He has good plans for us, and He will not let us falter. (“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28) 

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Romans 12:1-2 and Genesis 12:1-9 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question:Is God rescuing you out of your comfort zone? Is it for you to abide in Him or for you to carry out His call to make disciples of all nations?

Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, I praise and thank you for carrying out excruciating rescues in my life. Thank you for taking me out of what I think are ideal situations, that in the end will serve as a spiritual pitfall for me. I love you my Lord and may you give me the confidence to fully embrace your great plans for my life. Amen.