top of page
Logo1-03-03.png
Search

Get uncomfortable this year

Did you grow complacent in 2023? Did you sit stagnant? Maybe it was a hard year of lessons for you. Or, maybe it was a year of rest for you.


Naturally, I like to be challenged. I like books that make me ponder and refine my thoughts surrounding what it looks like to be a better human, and a better follower of Jesus. This isn’t natural for everyone, but rather more stretching and takes extra energy. But if you’re not challenging yourself, you’re most likely sitting in the same spot. As Jesus’ people we aren’t called to constant stagnancy. We’re called to press on and run our race with endurance!


This past year we traveled for ten months and built a home simultaneously. We endured a lot of sickness and we were challenged in new ways. My dependence on God through every moment deepened, along with patience and endurance to keep going. But maybe the most remarkable way I grew, was noticing the way I was suffering through imperfect circumstances — I was suffering well. With joy, even. I was impermeable to what was happening around me. At one point, I felt Jobs story hit close to home as we hit our fourth week of having bronchitis in a small camper space. On top of that, there were some hiccups with the home build, my husband was traveling for work and my son had a double ear infection. A long night in the ER after 3 days of no sleep already and being unable to get his medication in the small town we were in could have sent me over the edge. But — I noticed something else...


When we suffer, we often suffer alone. Privately. We keep it to ourselves. At that time we had some lovely young neighbors we’d gotten to know. One of which had just given their life to Jesus, while the other had bad experiences with the church and was wary of anything to do with Him. They had been babysitting for us on occasion and they just so happened to be helping me out when everything had hit the fan at once. They spent several days with me, watching how I dealt with each fire and problem that arose. I felt the Lords supernatural protection and peace as I made call after call to deal with something I, in a worldly sense, had every right to be upset about. But they were watching. Every interaction, every word, every action. They were shocked that I was handling things the way I had those past few days. And with that I had a revelation — my discomfort was revealing Jesus. There was victory happening in my vulnerability. And suddenly, I understood suffering from a whole new light. A full transformation was unfolding and God was bringing it full circle. I felt the Holy Spirit carrying me, allowing me to love well, with joy and patience during so much discomfort, AND He was showing these young people how there are no worldly circumstances that can shake your foundation when it’s on the Lord. Even when the hardships are piled up and most people would lose their cool, God shows up differently.


God didn’t stop there though. He didn’t stop using it all for our good and His glory. They came to church with us. Challenging conversations we’re had about how to live according to His word. I watched as He worked in us not just through our uncomfortability, but theirs as well.


Job suffered arguably well. Through all the extreme hardship he endured, He never cursed God. I’m not sure I would do as well under those conditions. He ran the race with endurance! He stayed faithful in the discipline and discomfort, and as a result multiple people around him saw Gods glory. It’s shocking and beautiful at the same time.


If this is what it takes to draw people nearer to Jesus, we should take discomfort as a blessing. People are watching, there is an opportunity... and He will not waste it. I had a rare firsthand look at how the way I handled hardship/discomfort was affecting others, and it grew my faith, endurance and trust in my walk with God.


Get uncomfortable. Dare I say, even welcome it. Let it grow you. Let it change you. God is doing so much more within it than you think. We can suffer supernaturally. We can be in discomfort with unwavering hope, joy and peace — and the visibility of that has an affect on others!


Let His word guide you.

Hebrews 12:1-13:

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. God Disciplines His Children 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.


Happy new year!! There’s amazing things on the other side of discomfort — go find them this year!



0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Commentaires


Join our mailing list

Thanks for subscribing!

©2022 by it gets better blog.

bottom of page