“Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth.”
A. W. Tozer
I have noticed a subtle change in me over the past few years since living through the pandemic. My fear and anxiety have caused me to take fewer risks. Instead of living big, I began to live small. Instead of living by faith, my life began to shrink. Instead of embracing life and being excited, I felt like a part of me stopped living.
My joy and hope were gradually robbed by disappointment and sorrow. I settled for relief rather than pushing myself toward anticipation and growth. I became content with being content, which led me to become complacent. Until recently, I was unaware of the threat of contentedness turning into complacency. I almost became like the proverbial frog who boiled to death as a result of the gradually increasing heat.
Being content with living in my comfort zone, being satisfied, and not wanting to challenge myself with growth is not healthy. Settling where I am led to stagnation. Eventually, a stagnant pond begins to stink, because there is no fresh water coming in and going out. Complacency causes us to survive, not thrive. But God promises us abundant life in John 10:10. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” Are you living a full life, one that flourishes, or are you settling for complacency and being “self-satisfied?”
When the Holy Spirit shined His bright light on being complacent, I repented of my fear, of settling for less than what He wanted to give me, and not living a life of faith-filled risks. I asked God to forgive me for my complacency instead of seeking to live abundantly and for allowing the enemy to rob, steal, and destroy my emotions of hope and joy. I am committed to changing things up, challenging and pushing myself forward, and getting out of my comfort zone. Embracing the unknown, needing God to come through for me, and watching Him flex His muscles on my behalf will lend to experiencing an abundant life.
I do not want to live the same old, same old life or settle for relief from the pain of being out of my comfort zone. I want to grow spiritually and emotionally and experience transformation from the inside out. I want to have anticipation, an expectant hope, and to look forward to the future. I want my soul to flourish and be fully alive.
“The contented soul is the stagnant soul.”
A. W. Tozer
Relevant Reflections:
1. How have you chosen complacency over abundant living?
2. What specific steps can you take to move from being content and complacent?
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