Shelly A. Faust

Breaking Up With Comfortable and Finally, A Stamp in My Passport

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First Passport stamp

Way back in January, I was invited to serve on the Hospitality Team for the Klove Cruise. One morning during our devotion time, Bob Goff threw a medal from the stage and it landed at my feet. God whispered to my heart that this year would require bravery and courage. Eight months later I’m waking up in Canada and getting read to speak at my first international women’s event.

The night before I left, my ten year old begged me not to leave because “you’re the glue that holds this family together” and “who’s going to remind me to brush my teeth?” and “while you’re gone my hair will probably look like Napoleon Dynamite.” (Just a tad dramatic)

So upon departure, yeah, my heart needed a little courage. But God is a God who is faithful and promises to go with us on these new adventures that often require bravery and are sure to stretch us outside of our comfortable places (like a stay at home mama from Texas flying to Canada to deliver a word, encourage some hearts, and offer freedom to others who might be tempted to resist an assignment outside of their natural abilities and strength).

Responding to and answering the call of God, wherever it may lead us (across the oceans, to the ends of the earth, to our neighbor’s house, or to the neglected corners of our own community) is costly. Not might be, not could be, IS. It requires a surrendering of the things you hold the tightest. And just when you think you’ve trusted Him in all places, He tugs at a part of you still connected to your own confidence, strength, or ability to control.

I boarded my plane, (medal securely attached to my backpack, Joshua 1:9 strategically tucked into my heart), and stepped further into this new season God has called me to.

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

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Steps of obedience are very often followed by blessings of bravery. A bravery not in and of ourselves, but in the One true and living God. He makes us brave with a courage confident in a God who goes before us and has already prepared the way. A God who knows all things and makes all things possible.

So, good morning from Canada!

Yesterday was quite the adventure, as my time in the airport usually is for some strange reason. After being delayed in Houston, I missed two connecting flights but finally made it to Canada.

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From out of my uncomfortable places, I’m praying God will bring comfort and bravery to others. I’m praying He will be glorified and move among these women in this little camp hidden in the beautiful landscape of His own masterfully designed creation.

Because I think He has a way of calling us out to call others in. Calling us out of ourselves, out of this world, out of faithless living.

And into a realm of Kingdom living right here on this ground.

So, I’m breaking up with comfortable. It’s just not working anymore.

How about you? Are you hearing a call from deep within to step outside of the places you’ve been scared to move past? Those places that have kept your mouth shut? Those places that have prevented your feet from walking and your hands from being lifted in surrender?

I’m not just talking about getting on an airplane or speaking at a women’s retreat. There are more things inside of our comfortable zone holding us captive than we realize. Breaking up with comfortable could mean:

No matter what it is that’s stretching you outside of your comfortable place, God has already gone before you and prepared the way. Go ahead, break up with comfortable.

What is God is asking you to do that is outside of your comfortable place? 

I Never Needed a Passport Until I Got One

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Joshua 1-9

We’ve been talking about the different seasons we walk through in our lives, physically and spiritually. We’ve also discussed the importance of hearing and recognizing God’s voice. And two Fridays ago, I shared a personal story about some consequences of obedience and disobedience in my life.

Today, I want to sit down on the couch and share another story with you in hopes that your heart will find courage to do the thing God is asking you to do.

When we hear God speak with words of instruction, we get to choose how we respond.

When we delay obedience, we walk in disobedience. God may be trying to move us into our next season but unless we trust and surrender we will not enter. He will not force us to obey or make us do what He has called us to do.

About ten years ago I received a prophetic word from a prophet (who has also been one of my spiritual mentors) at a conference. He said I was going to travel all over the world and one day I would have a passport full of stamps. The hidden desire to cross the oceans leaped within me.

And then reality interrupted with doubt and fear.

  • I didn’t even have a passport.
  • Not only had I not traveled outside of the country, I could count on one hand the number of times I had been on an airplane.
  • Going overseas seemed scary and impossible.

You can probably guess I did not get my passport.

About a year later, this same prophet spoke over me at a different conference. His words were short and precise: Get your passport.

Over the next couple of years I did make an effort to pick up an application (or three) from the post office but again, doubt and fear won. It’s amazing how much dust a packet of paper can accumulate.

The same words were spoken over me once more.

Three times I received what I believe was divine instruction to get my passport and three times I did nothing (which, by the way, is disobedience). Coincidentally (or not), I never needed a passport.

But last December guess what I did? I filled out my application, drove to the passport office, smiled for a picture, and finally got my passport.

To say I’m a little stubborn or hard-headed may be an understatement.

Since getting my passport, I have traveled (upon invitation) outside of the country once already and have four (yes, FOUR) other international trips/invitations on my calendar over the next ten months.

In fact, next Thursday, I leave for Canada. It’s my very first time to speak internationally. I could not have accepted this invitation if I had not finally surrendered and stepped out of my comfort zone to get my passport.

When we hear God’s voice, we can choose to heed it and obey or ignore it and disobey.

I heard God’s voice.

  • I received a prophetic word and God confirmed it to me more than once (confirmation).
  • I knew in my spirit (inner knowing) that it was a personal word from Him.
  • It lined up with scriptures and another word He had given me in previous years.

For too long, I chose to listen to doubt and fear and walk in disobedience. I was afraid of what God would ask me to do if I moved forward. I was comfortable doing what was familiar and easy.

As long as I refused to do what God was asking me to do, I could not move into the places He was asking me to go.

I am reminded of Joshua. After Moses died, God told Joshua to “arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving them – the children of Israel” (Joshua 1:2). God was calling Joshua to arise and be established in the place He had planned for him, but he had to do something first: He had to go over.

Unless Joshua crossed over the Jordan, unless he left familiar territory, he could not have walked into his place of destiny.

From Deuteronomy 31:23 to Joshua 1:9 God commands Joshua to be strong and courageous, to not be afraid. I don’t know about you, but this makes me think maybe Joshua was a little afraid to do this new thing.

When Joshua made the decision to answer the call, he learned personally that God is a Keeper of His promises. He trusted God with his whole heart and stepped into his destiny.

God is always faithful. If He is telling you to do something, He will not ask you to go alone.

He doesn’t promise it will be easy. He doesn’t promise it will be comfortable.

But He does promise to go with us.

 

Let’s chat:

  • Is there something God has asked you to do that doesn’t make sense or seems a little scary?
  • Is He calling you into a new season? A season of unknowns and unfamiliar territory?
  • Does it line up with scripture? Has it been confirmed?
  • What is holding you back?

Scripture:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

 

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