Four Source Idols: The Quest for Comfort

Thank you for coming back to another week of the Live & Labor newsletter. We are now on the back of half of our series on the four source idols that sit beneath our sinful actions and inclinations. The first week I talked about power and last time I talked about control. That leads us to this week’s topic: comfort. The pursuit of an easy life.

I’ve been working my way through this series based on what I struggle with the least to eventually the most. Comfort is high up there as a source idol for me. What makes it hard for me is that my pursuit of ease and comfort is closely wrapped with pride and envy.

To understand that, you have to understand that to me, my life has felt like a series of uphill battles. Just a long series of Nos as I search for a yes. But if I’m honest, I don’t think my life has been THAT hard. I’ve seen my fair share of mess and trauma but I know and have seen people who have and continue to have it way worse than I have. But for the Grace of God, I would be in a much worse position.

I see people who have it so much easier than I do (at least on the surface) and I want that. I look at these rich people with their rich people problems and think to myself: it would be nice to have those struggles. This leads to a callousness of my heart that causes me to be dismissive of their pain and tragedy because I’ve lived through worse.

Easy

At my core, I just want life to not feel like such a struggle all the time. That’s the comfort I’m looking for: for something, anything to just fall into place with no fuss. I was talking with a good friend last week and I was telling him about my strong desire to leave New York. It was only upon later reflection that I realized a large motivation behind that is comfort as well. If you’re not from here, this is the best way I can put it: If you’re not rich, it feels like a grind to get to the bottom of the middle. 

I want to feel secure and comfortable, two things I have never felt. I want to be able to shop at Whole Foods without having to think about what it’s going to do to my credit card bill. Is that too much to ask?

Of course it is because life isn’t comfortable. Everyone has their mess. We all have things that keep us up at night. Even if that stress comes from the comfort of a big house, surrounded by things, and a fridge full of grass fed beef, wild caught fish, and organic snacks. 
 

Perspective

What really gets me is how often I find myself complaining about the things I used to pray for. For me that is a reminder that there is no level of comfort that brings peace. There is no acceptable level of ease because our hearts will always crave more. 

Trying to fill the God sized hole in our hearts with things, positions, accolades, whatever it may be simply does not work. Looking for comfort apart from the one who gives us peace is an exercise in futility. I know that and I’m sure you know it too. How much time have we wasted hoping that this (insert thing here) will bring us peace. If only this (insert event here) could happen then life would be alright and stress free. How many times have you overworked yourself saying it’s just a season and it’ll all be different soon?

The pursuit of comfort and ease will ironically tire us out. It leaves us as hamsters perpetually spinning but never going anywhere. I know what my preferred outcomes in life are. The ones that I think will make me feel the most comfortable. But I also know that ultimately they will not satisfy my heart. I just need to remember this on the days I feel particularly uncomfortable.