Growth in discomfort

Is comfort over rated?

My mum always told me that you never grow when comfortable; that I must find that healthy level of uncomfortable to gain valuable life lessons (I mean healthy because there is definitely a level too far.)

GROWTH IN LIFE

First – and perhaps most likely what she meant – is the uncomfortable nature in our big life moments. Our first day of school, moving out, job interviews; the list is endless, for it is in these moments where the trajectory of our life changes. Choosing that uni over this one, or accepting that job over the other are uncomfortable decisions and moments that will be life changing. It is in these places of discomfort that we grow.

I have grown deeply from the experiences of this year, from the little and big life lessons. From those moments of discomfort in the kitchen to the leading my first ever children’s group. Each moment has a level of discomfort and each moment took me that one step further along the journey of life, not allowing me to stay stagnant.

GROWTH IN WISDOM

Then there are the discomforts in the mind. The big theological questions, the questions of morals and the questions which just boggle the brain. Whether it be gay marriage or predestination there is a level of discomfort. A moment where you realise ‘actually what do I believe?’ And that’s not even to mention Paul’s letters which just seem to have tension all by themselves. The tension that reading the bible can bring is a discomfort I have learnt to grow in. Learning what I believe as well as learning that it was ok not to believe anything major just yet when it comes to some topics. Getting used to the discomfort in the tension in theology is something that has taken me two terms to learn. As long as there is no discomfort in one thing – that he loves me because he loves me. Sometimes uncomfortable moments in life are when we learn even more the love of God – it works both ways.

GROWTH IN THE KINGDOM

There’s sometimes discomfort beyond our lives too. There have been times where I am faced with a pastoral or a bible question that I honestly have no idea how to answer. There is a first for everything – whether that be an elderly visit or mentoring a young person; teaching adults who have believed longer than you’ve been alive to sharing the name of Jesus on the street to a stranger. These moments of uncomfortable nature have a lasting impact that I cannot see. They grow my skills but they also have an effect on the kingdom I can’t begin to fathom.

SEASONS OF INTENSE GROWTH

And finally, there’s Covid 19. Discomfort seems to be the atmosphere of the season. A discomfort in our own homes. Its unnerving. But I want to humbly suggest that we look beyond discomfort to the outcome – to the growth. Growth along the journey of life, growth in our understanding of God, and growth in the kingdom.

The biggest moments in my life have been the most uncomfortable. The moments where you know there is no prior experience that you can draw on for this situation… so what then? We turn to the God of comfort.

Photo by Stanislav Kondratiev on Unsplash