3 Ways Being Uncomfortable Could Be The Best Thing For You
Steve Mayo
When Jesus asks you to step outside of your comfort zone, how do you respond?
Sometimes, for Christians to be at the center of God’s will, we need to be willing to be uncomfortable. Luke 14 gives an account of large crowds following Jesus from town to town in hopes that they would see and experience miracles. According to the text, Jesus turned to the crowd and gave a rather odd disclaimer about being a disciple: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:26-27).”
Being uncomfortable is often necessary for growth.
Jesus is basically asking, “Where does your allegiance lie?” Is your allegiance to your family or to friends and what they say, or will it be to his message of truth? It is not always easy, but I think we know the choice that should be made. The crowds loved the signs and gifts Jesus gave more than Jesus. When he asked the people to follow him even under these circumstances, it showed who was truly devoted and who was a fairweather follower. Being uncomfortable is often necessary for growth. Here are three ways being uncomfortable can help your spiritual life:
Be Uncomfortable With Complacency
It rarely feels pleasant to truthfully assess where we can personally improve, but if you want to grow, you have to be willing to be honest with yourself. In the Bible, Jesus said some hard things to people, but it was ultimately for their good. Choose not to settle for anything less than God’s best for your life, even if it means you need to do the hard work of changing some things.
Be Uncomfortable With Sin In Your Life
Is there a sin you used to struggle with that has now become a habit? It’s easy to slowly make allowances for sin, and over time, things that used to cause remorse are just a part of the routine. It may feel comfortable for the moment, but sin ultimately leads to destruction and will find us out. Proverbs 16:8 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Be Uncomfortable With Lack of Accountability
We need people in our lives to hold us accountable to our commitments to change. That requires inviting someone behind the curtain to see who we truly are and how we spend our time. It can be embarrassing at first to let someone else see more than just the polished versions of ourselves we often bring to school, work, and even church. We need God’s help and the help of others if we want to grow.
The Bible is not against comfort — however, when seeking comfort becomes your main mission, that is a problem. The Bible teaches a theology of contentment in comfort, as well as a theology of contentment in discomfort. Renew your commitment to not settle for less than the person God wants you to be.
Steve Mayo serves as the Director of Discipleship at CCA. In his role as director of youth discipleship he also assists in overseeing the CCFL six78 and HSM ministries. He and his wife Morgan have three children, Titus, Quincy, and Maxwell, who all attend CCA.
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