Uncomfortable Beauty

We have this window in our house that we always keep the blinds pulled up, which kinda defeats the purpose of having blinds there. The other day, someone pulled them down. Immediately, my response was "why?" I noticed instantly and while it had no effect on my daily life, it bothered me. Even though, now, the blinds true purpose was restored, I hated the change. I wonder how often we act the same way with God when it comes to change in our lives. How resistant are we to change, even when He's restoring us to our purpose? When He says "no," when our plans fail, yet His prevail... most of the time our response isn't thankfulness. It's impatient questioning. Wondering why, asking He'd change His mind, and obsessing about prior plans instead of our restored future. When our plans fail, it feels uncomfortable and discouraging. But, thank God, the story doesn't end there. Mentally, I think we all focus on what we desired dying. We forget to rejoice in the Lord establishing the present for a future that will be better than we can imagine. The blinds purpose was fully restored and was finally being used to its fullest potential, but because it was different, it was uncomfortable. How long have you been putting off a necessary change and denied God's full potential for you? Change, while uncomfortable, is worth every bit of tension, grit, and difficulty. I'm a testament to that. As a girl who would've died on a hill if it meant nothing changed, to stepping into a new church, new positions, new jobs, new seasons... I've learned... it's worth it. The things God does in the uncomfortability of change, the growth, refining, lessons, and joy that comes from stepping into all He has for you... pure beauty. For so long, I feel like I was a silent viewer for all the Lord was doing. I chose to sit in the stubbornness of being comfortable and it robbed me of so much life. I didn't truly believe God had a divine purpose for me. I didn't see all the gifts God had given me to use for His Kingdom. The enemy uses the comfortable to rob us of life and make us believe the Lord has nothing better for us. Stepping into change isn't easy, it's scary, but wow... the life that's on the other side. When we step into who God's called us to be, there is nothing sweeter. I'm beyond grateful for people in my life who have pushed me to step into places that filled with uncomfortable tensions. Who have made me knock on doors I was afraid to knock on, called me to positions I didn't believe I could do. Because, you know what, it's in the uncomfortable that we are reminded... it was never us in the first place. It's Him. It's in our humility, weakness, and servant hearts that He works best. We step into the uncomfortable, because we know it's where He works best. We step into the uncomfortable, because that's where He qualifies us. He doesn't call us because we're qualified. He calls us to qualify us. When He calls, do you follow? Do you obey? Delayed obedience is still disobedience. What parts of your life have you not surrendered to the Lord? What parts of your life are you resisting change and denying living out your full potential? Take the step. Embrace the tension. Live in the uncomfortable. There's so joy and life on the other side, I promise.