Sometimes in life we face the prospect of forced change. Most of us don’t choose to change of our own volition, but because we find ourselves uncomfortable, and are forced to make a decision about our circumstances.
I have a saying “Being uncomfortable is a catalyst for change”.
Over the years I have noticed that some of the biggest changes in my life happened after months of prompting from God. A quiet nudge, a gentle whisper, a confirmation. But when I consistently chose not to listen I would suddenly find myself in an uncomfortable position.
Several years ago God led our family to this lovely house in one of the better parts of the city. It was cheap rent when everywhere else the rents were doubling, and we had no doubt that God had led and provided for us in living there.
However after four years I started to feel like God was saying “it’s time to move”. But I didn’t particularly want to. I was quite happy living in my little white house on the hill. This house was in a great spot; walking distance to one of the best school’s in the city, a park and shops nearby, the beach minutes away and the first great neighbours we had ever had.
I kept disagreeing and arguing with God about moving to the other side of the city where I didn’t particularly want to go. However as you may have discovered God loves us, and when He has a plan He is persistent. So He kept nudging me. Then things started to happen. Our job situation changed and we were no longer living close to work, we had another baby and now we had 6 children squeezed into a 3 bedroom house, with the youngest two sleeping in our room. Then there was the sudden massive leak in the games room and the subsequent mold problem, which took months to fix.
Finally I was so uncomfortable in my little white house I said “Ok God can you please fix this”. My discomfort became the catalyst I needed for change. I was desperate, annoyed and very uncomfortable. And that is when God was able to act and get the blessing that He had been planning all along to me. Within months we had moved to a home of our own, with five bedrooms and twice the living area, and I was no longer uncomfortable.
Today if you are feeling particularly uncomfortable, stop and listen. Is God trying to say something to you? Is He trying to get something to you? Being uncomfortable is often the place God allows us to get to as a catalyst for the change we need to transition to new and better things.
God is good, and He loves us and has a plan to bless and prosper us. Even when everything else is changing He never changes. If you are feeling uncomfortable today, look for God in the midst of your discomfort and let Him lead you through. He has blessing on His mind.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 4:7)
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19)
Prayer: Lord help me to listen to you, and for when you are wanting to bring change in my life. Please help me to recognise that being uncomfortable can actually be a catalyst for change, and the need for me to transition to something new in my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.