“Momma, this is uncomfortable.”

I smiled, watching my young daughter mimic my amateur workout. She was towing two 5lb dumbbells as she lunged one leg forward at a time, counting reps under her breath.

My response to her, “This is uncomfortable. But it’s good for us.”

My heart burst with a sweet conviction.

Uncomfortable things are good for us.

I bet Noah was uncomfortable being mocked as he was building the gigantic ark that would help preserve life. (Genesis 6)

Abraham must have felt discomfort as he left his home and took on the title of a sojourner for life. (Genesis 12)

Joseph had to have felt intense discomfort being tricked by his own siblings, sold, and innocently imprisoned. (Genesis 37, 39)

Moses made it known he was uncomfortable with God’s plan to use him to help lead the Israelite’s out of Egypt. (Exodus 4:10)

We could go on and on naming real people in Biblical accounts.

Esther, Job, David, all of the Prophets… Our wonderful, majestic, and glorious Savior. Can you imagine the anguish and fleshly discomfort He felt as He went to the cross to the bear the wrath of God to atone for the sins of the saints.

He was fully God, yet fully man and knew the penetrating discomfort that lay ahead as He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking God the Father to let this cup pass from Him, nevertheless, not as He willed, but as God the Father willed. (Matthew 26:39)

The uncomfortable and devastating earthly fates of the disciples and the Apostle Paul.

Uncomfortable things are good for us.

What do all these accounts have in common?

They were ordered, decreed, called, and initiated by our Sovereign and very good God.

Each situation was one that no one in their right mind would ask for, be excited about, or naturally rejoice in.

Isn’t that some of our own stories?

Recently, I have found myself in a familiar and very despised place. One of emotional darkness and stale attempts to control a situation that I should know by now I have no control in. I look at this situation through the lens of my flesh and see with logic how things should be. But they’re not. The disorder of the situation can feel unbearable at times. But that’s just it. It is unbearable. Because it was never meant for me to bear. That is my Lord’s job, and He is faithful in doing His job perfectly and with a holiness that surpasses the third degree.

It’s uncomfortable. It forces me out of my many comfort zones in deep ways; this is ultimately good for me. It causes me to relinquish my silly attempts at control and surrender to my Sovereign and good God Who ordered me here. For His glory.

No Believer is sanctified, purified, or made more holy by sitting on the sidelines of life while aspiring for a trouble-free life that exudes a type of deceptive and counterfeit “comfort.”

Uncomfortable things are good for us.

Sometimes it takes sitting in our discomfort to realize how much we may still indulge in our flesh and attempt to curate comfortability over our pursuit of holiness and radical obedience unto the Lord. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I justify delaying obedience to the Lord. We all know delayed obedience is really disobedience and disobedience to the Lord is sin.

The uncomfortable situations in our lives are working out our spiritual muscles, just like when we physically work our muscles, it hurts. But it is ultimately good for us and strengthens us in ways we may never even know we need. Our spirit needs to be worked, pushed, and grown. The Holy Spirit will never take a break on His job of convicting us, guiding us into all Truth, sanctifying us, and equipping us to flee from sin and our reliance on our carefully cultivated comforts in life so that we rely on Him to help us react and walk in His Fruit of—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—even when we’re immensely uncomfortable in certain situations He’s called us to.

As a Believer we are now heirs with Christ. Our desire for obedience to Him, our quest for holy living, and our satisfaction in surrender to Him should be of the utmost because of what He’s done for us at the Cross of Redemption. I love what the Apostle Paul composed in His letter to the Roman Church, reminding them and us who we are in Christ.

“So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him,” (Romans 8:12-17 ESV).

The Christian life is not about our comfort and plans. I think many of us know this, but we may not live this truth out in the mundane of our days. I know I don’t. I can boldly proclaim, “I Trust my God!” Then rise to anger, annoyance, and much discomfort when my plans are abolished. My pride swells and the meager manipulation attempts manifest. I praise my Lord that He never ceases in His convicting me of this. My desire is to immediately surrender to what He’s ordered. Because He is good, whatever He ordains is not only good, but it is best.

We are heirs with Christ because of Christ! Our lives are not our own to plan away and hold so tightly. As Believer’s, we are His. Our lives are His to mold, order, and care for.

Maybe you’re currently in a season of life where your comfort is being dismantled. I want to encourage you to pray for an obedient, surrendered heart in the situation the Lord has arranged specifically for you—for your good—for His glory.

Uncomfortable things are good for us.

I pray the Lord keeps you close, renews your mind in the Truths of Scripture and you come to Seek Him, Know Him, Love Him, and Trust Him more and more.

I Trust my God, I Trust my God, I Trust my God

Ardently His,

Jess

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