For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “You will be delivered by returning and resting; your strength will lie in quiet confidence. But you are not willing.” – Isaiah 30:15 CSB
Here’s a question that’s been replaying in my mind: What does it really mean to be uncomfortable? Does it mean you’re in pain? Too hot or too cold? Maybe it’s like that little pebble in your shoe — poking your toe just enough for you to know it’s there, yet no matter how many times you try to shake it out, it never seems to leave.
Whatever form it takes, being uncomfortable brings trouble — and often that trouble leads to grief. None of us want to be uncomfortable. We crave the cushions that are just right, clothes that fit just so, beds that let us relax at the end of a long day. Comfort feels like safety.
But life wasn’t made for comfort. Life was made to grow and to thrive. Part of growing is enduring the pains that come from stretching toward what’s new. Part of thriving is learning and failing — learning and failing again — and again, until something takes root. Things that grow, grow through pain. Things that thrive, get back up, even when rising means facing what feels hard and uncomfortable.
I was sick last weekend, and to heal, I had to sit in the discomfort. I couldn’t escape it or rush through it. I just had to sit there and be uncomfortable. It hurt. It made me feel vulnerable. And I didn’t like it one bit. So I prayed for God to make the moment pass quickly. I just wanted to get over it.
And in that stillness, God whispered to my heart:
“How can you get through something you’re not even willing to sit and listen through?”
That question stopped me. What makes me uncomfortable? Am I trying to rush past the discomfort instead of sitting and growing through it? Is thriving about feeling comfortable — or about learning to endure, to grow, and to lean on God when things are hard?
Was I letting Him carry me through my discomfort, or was I sprinting ahead, hoping He would follow?
There are so many questions — but only One who has the answers. And He’s more than willing to give them. More than that, He’s willing to sit with us when we’re uncomfortable. He knows what it is to suffer, and He rose above it all.
So next time you feel uncomfortable, don’t rush to escape it. Take a deep breath, invite God into that space, and let Him meet you there. Just be uncomfortable with Him. Growth begins where comfort ends — and if you let God, He will be right there with you in the in-between.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to run from the moments that make me uncomfortable. Teach me to sit with You in the ache, to listen for Your voice in the stillness, and to trust that You’re shaping me even in the struggle. When I want to rush ahead, remind me that Your presence is my greatest comfort.
Amen.
Something Good 