Your Comfort or Your Calling—Weight Loss Lessons from the Story of Esther

Many of us never reach our full potential. It’s true whether it’s fulfilling our calling, doing great things for God or even being as healthy as we could be. Let’s face it, if being healthy was easy, then it would be a daily habit for us each day; the fitness industry would not be a billion-dollar industry and our medical bills would be a lot lower. Success at anything takes hard work, discipline, consistency, and determination. We owe it to ourselves to stay the course and live a healthy life that we were designed to live.

Having said that, I hate to admit it but comfort is one of my highest priorities in life. When I think of comfort, I think of a nice, warm, cozy bed, my slippers that look like oven mitts and my favorite purple throw on the couch. Living comfortably also means not constantly under stress or pressure; not worrying about where my next meal is coming from or where I’m going to sleep. But there is also a downside of being comfortable; it means, never stepping out of your comfort zone; never taking risks; never challenging myself; never sacrificing and not doing things that are too onerous or difficult. It’s can be a big factor in what can keep you from reaching your full potential. I dislike this aspect of myself because it keeps me from learning new things; experiencing new opportunities and growing.

Based on our personality, some of us are more adventurous than others but regardless of where we are on the spectrum, we must not let our comfort get in the way of our calling. God led me to the story of Esther to teach me about the importance of getting uncomfortable in order to fulfill my calling.

The story of Esther is about a young Jewish orphan girl selected for the king’s harem and through a series of circumstances, miraculously becomes the queen of Persia. Although God is not mentioned in the entire story, it demonstrates God’s love and sovereignty when we step out boldly to do what seems difficult, challenging or downright impossible.

Click here to read the full story of Esther.

I came upon two (what I consider) pivotal passages in the story;

“For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this? . . . and, “And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:14,16

After studying these 2 passages, I thought to myself, what if Ester did not step out of the familiar to the unfamiliar? What if she did not obey the calling that God had placed on her life? What if she was not willing to do what her uncle had asked her to do. What if she did not step out of her comfort zone and decide to risk it all? As I asked myself these questions, I could hear God asking me, “Cathy, do you want to be comfortable all of your life or do you want to fulfill your calling?”

My honest answer to Him was and is “both.” I don’t want one in exclusion of the other and I don’t think that God wants me to live an ‘uncomfortable’ life but He showed me that there are times when I have to step out of my comfort zone. There are times when we have to do what it takes to promote change, to look outside ourselves and do things that are bigger than we ever thought we were capable of and there are times where we have to take risks. Fortunately, it’s usually for a season and is usually followed by a harvest. (Ecc. 3:1, Psalm 1:3). Sometimes we have to do what is difficult regardless of whether we feel like it or not.

As you read my testimony, I challenge you to ask yourself the same question about your health. Are you willing to do the uncomfortable tasks and actions? Are you willing to push through when you don’t feel like it and when you are out of your comfort zone? Are you willing to wake up a bit earlier, turn off the TV and go for a walk instead, choose not to eat more than you know you should; spend more time in prayer?

If your answer is a resounding “yes,” like mine was, then get back on your horse and let’s continue on this journey together. Keep submitting your health, your body and your weight to God and let Him ease your burdens. That’s His promise to you and to me.

I recommit to be led by my calling and not by my comfort level. Will you join me?