Don't Stay Comfortable

Surrender.

I talked a little about it in the last post, but wanted to expound more.

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. — Luke 9:23

That’s not comfortable. That’s daily surrender. It costs something. It's not just an action — it’s a death to self that leads to life. I’ve heard so many preachers use the illustration of a person being afraid to surrender to God, scared that he might send him to be a missionary in a remote land. I think this kind of attitude reveals something deeper: 

1. He loves comfort more than Christ.

2. He's not adding to his faith or growing in the Lord.

3. He wants a way out of God’s will if it doesn't align with his plans.

But what is God’s will? That all should be saved (2 Peter 3:9). And how will people come to know the Lord? Through other Christians — through us — boldly sharing God’s Word.

So when someone says, “I’m not called to be a missionary,” it often reflects a broader hesitancy to witness at all — whether that’s at work, in a neighborhood, or even in a casual conversation. A person can say he's not “called,” but sometimes that’s just a cover for clinging to comfort. Growth requires change, and change requires discomfort. It requires consistent hard work. And many people are lazy. 

It means letting go of control, comfort, and often things we enjoy (even if they’re harmful).

It means trusting what we can’t yet see — and that’s uncomfortable. But that's faith. 

Faith is not just belief — it always takes us out of our comfort zone.

For many Christians, it's easier to stay in familiar patterns than to confront the discomfort of real transformation. That’s why people say “Jesus is Lord” but don’t live like it — because full surrender shakes up the life they’ve carefully built.  

A friend recently told me about a guy she was talking to. He casually and easily admitted he struggles with the sin of pornography and told her it’s normal 😲for Christian guys. He even told her he thinks she's expecting someone that he cannot and will not be (because she doesn't not want this sin in a potential partner's life). Honestly, I was shocked. And horrified. Here's this "Christian" who is not at all in the will of God. He's not surrendered, separated, or submitted to God nor is being sanctified by the Word. And on top of it all, he tried to "normalize" sin.  How sickening. 

Sadly, this is what many guys of this generation are becoming. They're content to sit in their comfortable sin zone, not bothering to change or even trying. And somehow, they expect a strong Christian, growing woman will marry them. It's unbelievable. And when a woman says no, they're immediately tagged as having "too high expectations." Since when did following God's will and being on the interstate (so that you can get off the exit when God says to) become too high of an expectation? It's just living holily, which is what God commands from EVERY believer. 1 Peter 1:15-16 says, " But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." 

This isn’t a post against men. The point is that Christians are wayyyy too content living in sin because they’re too comfortable to change. They check church off the list on Sundays, act one way in public, live another in private, and attend churches with no fire, no passion, and no pursuit of holiness. God is not looking for part-time Christians. He demands us to be holy.

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. – 1 Peter 1:15–16

If you feel no fire for God, no desire to grow, no passion for his Word or his will, beg God to revive your heart. If you're not adding to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity, then friend, fall on your face before God and ask him to forgive you for spiritual stagnancy.

It takes consistent discipline to grow. It takes dying to sin. Yes, it's hard. But when you begin to live holily, read and apply the Word daily, repent quickly, and stay in step with the Spirit, you become like a tree planted by rivers of water that brings forth fruit. 

I heard a true story about a chief in a secluded tribe who had a dream of a man with a book, though he never saw the man’s face. That dream gripped him, and he asked every outsider who visited about the book.

Meanwhile, a young believer in another country was walking the streets, praying for God to show him his will. He had surrendered completely. God touched his heart for that exact country (where the chief was) and this man packed up immediately and watched as God opened up every door and provided for him to get to that village. When he arrived, the chief eagerly asked, “Did you bring the book?” The man had brought the Word of Life and the chief and nearly the entire tribe accepted Christ.

This man inspires me because he refused to stay comfortable and look how God used him. Not everyone is called to leave their home country, but everyone is called to share the gospel, to live holy, to live surrendered, to live separated. People all around us are searching for God. They may say things like:

“I’ve accomplished a lot, but I feel empty.” “I don’t know my purpose.”  “I have no peace.”

“I’m scared of dying.”

Those are cries for help — for hope. Will you and I have the courage to respond? Will you and I get out of our comfort zones to tell them about Jesus? Are you and I living surrendered?

Let’s not stay stagnant.

Let’s not stay comfortable.

Let’s be vessels God can use because souls are at stake. 

Click here to listen to this song, Live For You Today if it doesn't load on the blog. 

I love the classic hymn, I Surrender All. 

All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give. 

I will ever love and trust him, in his presence daily live. 

All to Jesus I surrender, make me, Savior, wholly thine. 

Let me feel thy Holy Spirit, truly know that thou art mine. 

All to Jesus I surrender Lord, I give myself to thee.

Fill me with thy love and power, let thy blessing fall on me.

I surrender all, I surrender all. 

All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

2 Corinthians 5:15

And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

The Will of God

Romans 12:2

Have you ever heard someone describe the will of God as vague, mysterious, or ambiguous?

Preachers often talk about the will of God like it’s some hidden, elusive secret. As a result, many believers live in constant confusion about what God wants for their lives. They treat his will like a puzzle—something they have to search for, hoping they'll stumble across it one day, but never really sure if they ever will. But the truth is, God’s will isn’t complicated. It’s not buried. It’s not vague. God isn’t trying to confuse us or keep us guessing. 

Ephesians 5:17 says, Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Clearly, God wants us to know His will, and He’s revealed it to us. To explore it, let’s walk through a simple progression. These are not optional or obscure. They give us clear direction and are central to every Christian's life. 

1. Salvation

1 Timothy 2:4 says, Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Contrary to what some claim, God hasn’t chosen some people for heaven and others for hell. His will is that all would be saved—and that’s why he sent Jesus to be a ransom for all. Without salvation, none of the other steps are possible. This is step one on the path of God’s will. 

2. Sanctification 

1 Thessalonians 4:3 says, For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.

Once a person is saved, the Holy Spirit begins a lifelong process of transformation—changing the heart, renewing the mind, and reshaping actions. Sanctification isn’t instant, but it is constant.

Think of it this way: Salvation is spiritual birth. Sanctification is spiritual growth.

2 Peter 1:5–9 gives a great list of what a growing Christian should be adding to their faith. If he's not adding, he's not growing. God’s will is holiness—not moral compromise. There’s no excuse for sexual sin in a believer’s life. It contradicts God’s design and derails spiritual growth. 

3. Submission

Once a believer is growing in sanctification, they begin to live out their true purpose—not just becoming godly, but being fully used by God.

Unfortunately, many Christians focus so much on being godly that they overlook submission. But you cannot skip from salvation to godliness. God-likeness requires dying to self. Submission means saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.” It’s laying down your life, your plans, and your future to God. It’s taking your hands off the steering wheel of your life and trusting God to lead. As sanctification deepens your trust and love for God, you're more willing to let go of self and say, 'not my will but yours be done.' We each need to be fully committed to doing whatever God asks — going wherever he leads. Like sanctification, this kind of surrender is not a one-time decision but a way of living: moment by moment, choosing and wanting God’s path over our own. That’s not always easy. As humans, we crave a sense of control, especially over the future. But the truth is, real peace comes when we stop trying to run our own lives and start trusting God to lead. Even when we can't see the next step, his way is always better — and the freedom and rest that come from letting go are far greater than anything we could plan for ourselves. There's been many times when I could not see the next step to take. But in God's timing, he showed the way, opened up a door, closed a door, and I took the step - sometimes a leap - of faith into something unknown to me. Remember that God is already in the unknown, and when we get there, if it's his will, we will have complete peace that - no doubt whatsoever - that this is what God has for us.

4. Satisfaction

1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

This is a major mark of someone who has submitted to God: they have learned to be thankful in all things, not because life is easy, but because they trust that God is good.

Satisfaction follows submission because as long as you’re chasing control or your own desires, you’ll remain restless—even if you “get what you want.” Satisfaction isn’t circumstantial. It comes when God becomes your portion and your prize. Psalm 16:11 says, Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

A satisfied Christian doesn’t depend on circumstances for joy. He gives thanks in both abundance and suffering—because his peace is rooted in God’s character, not in the ups and downs of life.

5. Surrender 

Romans 12:1 says, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

You cannot surrender to God until you're satisfied in Him. Otherwise, surrender feels like loss instead of worship. Without satisfaction, surrender becomes legalism. You start giving things up for God, not because you trust Him, but because you think you have to earn His favor. You begin measuring your spirituality by how much you’ve “given up.” 

Consider the older brother in Luke 15:

• He stayed.

• He served.

• He obeyed.

But he wasn’t satisfied in his father’s love. So he grew bitter, prideful, and resentful. His obedience wasn’t worship—it was a transaction. But when a believer has truly tasted and seen that the Lord is good, they gladly let go of lesser things for a greater one—Jesus. We don’t surrender to get something from God. We surrender because we already have everything in Christ. And in light of His mercy, full surrender is our reasonable service. 

6. Separation 

Romans 12:2 says, And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Many Christians say they’re surrendered, but they still want to blend in with the world. Separation is not about isolation or superiority. It’s about distinction. It's about living a life that reflects your identity in Christ. And it’s not only behavioral—it’s relational and positional. You can’t be half in and half out. You can’t follow Christ with one foot in the world. You must choose a side. True separation flows from true surrender. If you haven’t surrendered fully, you won’t separate deeply. Your “set apart” life will feel forced and fake. But when you've surrendered, separation becomes a joy—because you're choosing the better portion. 

We don’t need Christians who blend in. We need Christians who shine.

Now, imagine these six steps as an interstate. And picture God’s specific will as the exits. If you're on the interstate—living in God’s revealed will—then when the time comes, God can clearly tell you which exit to get off on and what direction to take.

But if you're still on some back road—living in sin, rejecting gratitude, or refusing surrender—you’re not even on the right highway. You can’t expect God to direct your steps when you’re not even walking in His direction.

For example:

• If you’re not abstaining from fornication, you’re not in God’s will.

• If you're not giving thanks or surrendered, you’re not in God’s will.

• If you're not sharing the gospel, you're not in God’s will.

But once you're living out these six foundational steps—you’re on the right interstate path. And when it’s time to take a turn, God will say, take this exit. And you won't have to guess if it's right or what God wants you do. You have perfect peace and know: this is the way. Walk in it. 

Life in Xiamen, China

 August 28th I moved to Xiamen, China. The plane left in the evening, but a lightning storm delayed us from taking off. We waited 30 minutes on the plane, then 30 more, then taxied to the runway and waited more. I originally had a 2 hour layover in California which was enough time to get to the next plane, but because of the delays, I barely made it on the plane (they were all waiting for me and calling the flight over and over), and my luggage didn't make it on. From LA, CA. to Xiamen it was a direct flight - definitely a God thing because direct flights from Orlando are super rare and super expensive, but this ticket was in the 600s. Side note, if you want to travel to Asia, now's the time to buy a ticket! :) 

Beautiful skies

This is a Chinese airline and a huge jet. I was blessed to have a window seat. The airline provided a blanket, pillow, water, and several meals. 

This was the dinner.

Breakfast the next morning

At the airport I waited in line for customs for a while, completely forgetting to fill out the luggage form, but thankfully my sponsors and I remembered when we were outside. 😄

I arrived on Saturday, met my sponsors and new friend Jackie who I ended up staying with the whole week. Then that afternoon I walked down to the ocean. This city reminds me a lot of Honduras: the way people drive,

 the way vendors have open shops selling food and other items along the side of the road,

 the way people hang clothes outside to dry, 

the way people sit outside in the evenings and chat and drink coffee, and many other little things. 

In this particular province I haven't seen any houses. Every building is at least a couple stories.

This is the main road to walk down to get to the ocean. No cars are allowed and on the right and left sides there are all different kinds of shops. 

And these random cute statues sit in the middle. 😅

At the end of that pedestrian road, an underground tunnel takes you to the other side of the road where you can hop on a ferry to ride across the water.

Other sights:

They have McDonalds, KFC, and Starbucks here. 

For the first week I stayed in the upstairs at this school with my friend Jackie. She runs this school and taught me many Chinese words. Many days I ate lunch with the students (they were still in summer school). I met many kids (one especially - besides Jackie - helped me alot with new Chinese words) and ate a lot of good food cooked by Jackie.

We sat outside and had coffee and breakfast together. Many times it was mian bao - a bread they eat for breakfast - or toast.

You need groceries? Food from a restaurant? Drinks? 

You can easily order free delivery online and delivery people will come shortly. 

At the end of the alley (where the guy in the previous picture is walking towards the road) is this very popular road. I understand that it is Xiamen Rd. and so many young people come to take photos with the 2 words on this building....and the fish tank. 😂

I attend an international church that meets in this building (it's owned by the 7th day Adventists so we can use it on Sundays). International means that only passport passholders or those married to a passport holder can attend. 

Fountain that is never on. haha

See the temple on top of this building? My friend told me a lot of places are built around a temple. 

More sights from my walk from Jackie's place to the school where I work. 

Integrity park

Fire station. I don't know why it's so tall.

My school

My housemate and I went to the mall one evening to eat and I saw this dispenser. 

At a Greek restaurant. Do you see that little opening next to the men sitting at that table? That's a hand washing station. 

Some stores sell these huge bouquets of flowers.

My first time riding in taxi by myself I saw these figurines. 😁

Not to give too much information but this is something interesting. This is how the Chinese toilets look. You put your feet on either side and squat. (Also, similarly to Honduras, throw the paper in the trash can.)

For the first time I rent my own place! Well, I have a housemate, but still. It's way more affordable than in America. We're on the 12th floor of this 49-story building. 

This post is long enough so I'll stop here and share more pictures next time. :) 

I hope you are having an awesome week, and thank you for following along! Feel free to comment if you have any questions and I'll answer them in the next post.