“They pleaded with Jesus to leave their region”

A pastor friend of mine once shared that his mission was to “comfort the troubled and trouble the comfortable.” I had never really thought of it that way, but it makes perfect sense, especially as we relate to our passage today in the gospel of Mark. 

Both personally and professionally, I’ve had extensive experience walking with people who expressed a desire to make significant life changes. Whether that was from choices they had made in their past or due to physical or mental health issues they needed to manage or overcome, it’s common to connect with people in these circumstances and be puzzled by many of their behaviors. 

When I had the privilege of working with individuals who were exiting prison, there was often an initial desire to make progress and change the trajectory of their lives. Sadly, that was far too often followed by a return to old patterns. I am not implying that they all returned to criminal activities, though some did. But after months (or years) living a life with very few, if any, choices, the vast possibilities and constant need to make decisions in the outside world was extremely uncomfortable for many of my clients. 

Similarly, it can be painful to see someone who experiences physical, mental or emotional challenges turn away from or even refuse treatment, resources and/or medication. Sometimes they stick with patterns that limit their ability to fully experience health, joy, and life to the fullest. 

All of us settle into patterns of (dis)comfort that serve us in some way. Just as the crowd saw remarkable change in the man who was no longer demon-possessed, they still sent away the One who made that happen. For some of us this could be the doctor we are avoiding going to see. Maybe it’s the nudge you keep feeling to seek more fulfilling employment. It could be the medication on your bathroom counter that you just can’t bring yourself to start taking, or a repeated invitation to connect with someone you keep blowing off.

We’d like to feel better physically or mentally, but we know what it feels like to live our current reality. We often adapt to much more discomfort or pain than we really need to endure. Even more crippling are the assumptions we often make that something might be hard, feel different or take too much time to come to fruition. For me, this is the place where I look to lean on God and move beyond my own (stubborn) tendencies.  

I encourage you to think about the both/and of the message this week. Where are you troubled and in need of comfort? Where might you be too comfortable and need to take action on the things that should be troubling you? I know there are people and resources ready and waiting to help you find comfort. I also know that you are the answer to providing comfort to others or impacting change that reflects the Kingdom of God. In either case, depending on God and following the example that Jesus set, gives us the path that guides us to take the action we need.