Being Stretched

Let’s talk about it! Because being stretched seems to be the name of my life right now! Literally I feel like God is stretchingggggggg me. And honestly, it’s pretty uncomfortable. But because it seems like my stage right now, I’ve decided I should just get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

So many stories in the Bible show God using people in ways they were not comfortable with. Let’s take a look at Abraham. After years of waiting for a Son, God blessed Abraham with his son Isaac. But soon after, God told Abraham to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering. Just as Abraham was about to slay his son, an angel of the Lord called out to him. In that moment, Abraham had proved his fear of God. He trusted that God would still fulfill his promises to Him even if he had to slay his own son. Genesis 22

This was a stretch of his faith. It was very uncomfortable, and honestly a whole lot to ask to sacrifice the one son who he prayed so hard for. But even with the feelings of fear, doubt, and hesitation, Abraham was still ready to do the will of the Lord. He was confident that the Lord’s will is better than being comfortable.

But think about it. What does comfortable mean? Comfortable is affording or enjoying contentment and security, free from stress or tension. If I am comfortable and satisfied, why would I want to change anything that could cause me to be uncomfortable? I wouldn’t. But that also means, that I wouldn’t be growing either. And God knows that we probably won’t do it on our own, which is why sometimes he must push us into the uncomfortable. He must put us in unfamiliar territory and unfamiliar situations to grow and mature us.

Psalm 42:16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

One of my uncomfortable situations right now, is my career. I’ve been in healthcare since I graduated college, so making a career transition requires a lot of work. Networking has never been something I really enjoyed doing. Not because I don’t like to meet people, but because I’m a more intimate setting person. So, I enjoy getting to know people one-on-one, but when there is a lot of people, my introvert ways surface. But during this transition, I have had to talk to waaaaaaay more people, attend waaaaay more events, initiate conversations with “important” people and more. It’s definitely a stretch.

Outside of that, God has instructed me to connect with more people on a personal level and share my story. God has asked me to have conversations with people who in my flesh, I had written off. My first thought is always “really God, this is too much”🥴.  (More on forgiveness in the next blog post)

But what I have learned along the way is that God is always up to something. There is purpose in everything He does, He is intentional. When I look back over the “stretches” in life, they all reminded me where my help comes from. Those “stretches” helped me to GROW! Sometimes it may seem like the stretch is too much, but it is necessary.

Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

When God is trying to elevate us and take us to new places, He has to make sure we are ready. We can’t increase and stay the same. Just like a promotion at work requires hard work and dedication, the same is true for us growing in God’s Kingdom and His purposes for us.

We have all heard of the term “growing pains”. This phrase is usually used when something is growing but is also struggling a little as it reaches it’s full potential. When we experience any sort of pain, we normally depend on a doctor or specialist. As God sharpens our character, we will experience pain. As God continues to mold and make us into who we are called to be, we will experience a lot of uncomfortable things. This includes, beginning and ending relationships, making hard choices, being vulnerable, being consistent, doing the hard things, and trusting God with the rest. My main goal now is to pay attention to what God is teaching me in this season. This growth season is the developmental stage. I’m 1000% committed to the process, because when God shows up, he SHOWS OUT! Every.single.time. As with everything else, in time, I will see it all coming together in GOd’s perfect timing.

Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

🤎