Uncomfortable

Thanks for discomfort.

God, sometimes it doesn't feel good to see one of your good friends hugging a guy you really like.  Sometimes it feels uncomfortable to accept a criticism graciously from someone else. Sometimes things just gnaw on you.

God, discomfort in my life often seems to be an opportunity to do something right.  I can respond in an unChrist-like manner and maybe feel a little better, a bit better understood, stronger, justified; or i can respond in a Christ-like manner and walk like You did, LORD.... Loving at all times.  Love is really a strong thing, not ooshy-gooshy.  Love sometimes is tender and other times is tough.  God, you responded to so many discomforts in love.  Whether that love spoke wisdom, or healed the blind; rebuked a disciple, or held a child.  Much more.

   It can be hard to do that.  But even if the results aren't rainbows and sunshine (even if things don't get better even though you did the right thing), you know you did something right.  You know you represented Christ here on Earth.  Maybe someone saw Jesus through you.  Maybe you saw Jesus in that moment.  Maybe  you and God just had a moment together.  I don't know.  Perhaps one of the greatest gifts is you are being fully human; you are exercising your will in a situation, making a choice contrary to your body's advice to "seek comfort!" rather than deal with discomfort.  You are living above fear.

Walking the walk God says we can, in Him-- that is really living.  Walking like Jesus did is life to the fullest.  It doesn't meet the world's standards of popularity, ascetics, comfort, and gratification.  But it is altogether the most gratifying sort of life possible, God's blueprint for you meeting real life.

I'm rambling now, so I'll just conclude by repeating myself.
Thanks for discomfort. (Amen.)