Uncomfortable Christianity

Oct 10

“In order to grow, thrive, and flourish, we must be willing to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.”

I used to run obstacle course races at an elite level for many years. If you are familiar with Spartan Race, Tough Mudder, Battle Frog, Warrior Dash, and races like this, that’s what I’m referring to here. None of them really brought me any level of comfort, just the opposite actually. You’re probably thinking, “why in the world would I do something crazy like that” and what a great question that is. You see I love a challenge and I love an opportunity to make myself grow. So I used these race challenge opportunities as a way to do that for myself physically, but even more so mentally. I learned the phrase, “embrace the suck”. Essentially that means, get comfortable with being uncomfortable. So yes I did enjoy what I was doing, more so when I crossed the finish line, even though the process caused discomfort to my body. Now that’s what you call fun huh? Stay with me here… These principles can be used in many areas of our life for growth opportunity.

Are you okay with you, the way you've turned out? Maybe you're not in a place in your life where you can answer that quite yet, but how are you doing? I mean, how are you really doing? I'm not asking you to make small talk. That's not something I do. Let's delve deeper. I want to know how you are doing with who you are.

Think about where you are at today in your personal self. Are you the you who you want to be? If you are, then keep on doing what you’re doing, but if you are like me and probably not there yet, what will you do today to bring you closer to become the you that you want to be?

Too many of us strive to be comfortable and live a comfortable life. When we arrive there, little room is left to keep pursuing how we can become the person God wants us to be because we have all we need. We don't really need Him to provide for us. We did it. We worked for what we have and we accumulated this, stuff. In fact, we pridefully sit back and marvel at all that we worked for, treasure it, and cling to it as prizes earned that we deserve. Don't worry, I say “we” because I am guilty of doing the same.

Let's talk about being uncomfortable. Think about it… Anything in life that takes us outside our comfort zone makes us grow in some capacity. Simply going to the gym and being uncomfortable there makes our muscles grow and get stronger. Going to college takes us out of our normal comforts and stretches our minds so they grow. Taking the new promotion makes us do things we don't normally do, but pushes us to become greater by being first uncomfortable. Being invited to a friend's home for dinner might make you uncomfortable if you are an introvert, but the experience of community is worth being uncomfortable for a short time.

No I’m not simply talking about our career life or social life, but I’m talking about the you that resides in the deep recesses of your mind and protrudes into your every day thoughts, habits, language, and actions. How's that you doing?

We were never promised a plush life, or intended to live comfortably everyday, so having those goals are fruitless, self-serving, and expiring, but is it not wrong to have desires and desire a life with certain comforts? Yes and no. It just depends on who or what we are worshiping. No matter how we live our life or where we live it, the most important thing is who we have become, are becoming, or are we someone who has become indifferent to the possibility of letting God transform you into who He thinks you should be. Are you even willing to cross that bridge?

Read Romans 12 three times.

That's the part that makes us feel uncomfortable. Remember, in order to grow in whatever capacity, we must be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Does the thought of this make you uncomfortable?

This includes who we are to be in Christ. What will it take to become your flourishing self? What does it look like exactly? And, most importantly, what does that look like to be who God wants you to be?

Take those steps. Do those things. Involve the people who need to be involved. Move onward toward that goal of who you want to become. If you don’t have a goal, think about one and begin to move in that direction. Only you are the expert of you, but God is the architect who has designed us to thrive together with one another. Growing and maturing in Him isn't something that He intends for us to do alone. In fact, we can never do it alone. We are stronger together. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

If all this makes your head spin and you struggle with your purpose or who you ought to be, struggling is normal. Think uncomfortable. That's just the nature of being human. Scripture tells us that whatever our struggles, whatever makes us stressed, anxious, worried, burdened or shake our head, Jesus has overcome it (John 16:33).

Pray, today. Does that make you uncomfortable?

God wants us to lean into him for strength, comfort, wisdom, direction and allow him to move us forward (Matthew 11:28) to become the us that He knows we could be. That only happens when we surrender. It's all about one thing, our heart. (1 John 2:15-17)

Are you willing to be uncomfortable for God? Are you willing to be uncomfortable and allow Him to do His thing to make you into who He wants you to be?

Pray: Lord help me to look to you for strength and comfort. Help me not to get bogged down by unsupportive people, first world problems, and the shiny things of this world, but rather focus all my attention on loving you and love people how you love them and see them the way you see them. That's hard for me to do. Help me to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Help me to serve others and consider them above myself. That's also hard for me. Help me to persevere in your grace and lead others to do the same. Show me where my weaknesses are and help me to rely on the strength of the Holy Spirit to be transformed in my mind and live my life how you intend so that I can become the me you've always wanted me to be . In Jesus name amen!