“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 6:33).

No one likes feeling uncomfortable.

In fact, that’s probably why the word associated with that unpopular feeling is exactly that: uncomfortable. Otherwise known as the opposite of being comfortable. The opposite of feeling at ease, or relaxed, or cozy. Being uncomfortable causes us to feel stressed, anxious, uneasy, and awkward.

Feeling uncomfortable is hard. It’s a difficult emotion to handle and oftentimes, we find ourselves anxious to be over with it and move on with the situation to a more positive feeling.

Uncomfortability is inevitable, however. It’s as much of a part of life as breathing is, as any emotion is. As long as we live and breathe on this earth, there will be times that we feel uncomfortable.

And that so describes the life of being a Christian.

Being a Christian is often difficult. It’s at times, awkward and usually uncomfortable. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to us, as Jesus warned his disciples and us in the Bible that this world would be troublesome. (See John 6:33 for an important reminder.) God didn’t tell us life would be easy for us. He didn’t tell us that we wouldn’t suffer and that everything that happens to us would be crystal clear as to how and why it’s for our good. In fact, he told us that the world would hate us. (John 15:18) He told us that there would be wars and rumors of wars until the end of time. (Matthew 24:6) And He told us that His ways and thoughts are always greater and higher than our own. (Isaiah 55:8) Rather, we are told that we were never meant to fit in with this world, but that we were chosen out of the world. (John 18:19)

Since we have been chosen by Him out of this world, we have a purpose on this earth that is much greater and much more rewarding than "fitting in" could ever offer us. And that purpose is to stand out. To be bold. To continuously have our conversations be seasoned with salt and to always have a reason for the hope that we have. (Colossians 4:6, 1 Peter 3:15)

It’s definitely not easy being a Christian. It’s living a life that is always full of rejection, heartache, and loneliness but we can rest in the assurance that our work is not in vain. When we live our lives according to His Word and His promises, He vows to bless us. He promises us that the Word that we spread will “not return to me empty but will achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

Life in this world will never be comfortable. It will always have sorrow, it will always have fear, it will always have heartbreak, tears, rejection, loneliness, and uncomfortability. However, we find comfort in the fact that this is not our end goal, rather heaven is our eternal home and our end goal. And there we will always be relaxed, we will always be at ease, we will always be comfortable- within the pearly gates and golden streets of the glories of heaven.

We better start getting comfortable with being uncomfortable, then, knowing that comfortability was never God’s plan for us. Rather, He wishes for our uncomfortability in order to strengthen us, our faith, and our relationship with Him, and to provide us with countless opportunities to further His kingdom.