A Prayer to Grow Even When It’s Uncomfortable
By Victoria Riollano
Bible Reading:
I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me. - Luke 1:38
Listen or Read Below:
As a mom of many, I have had my fair share of pregnancies. Though it may not be fun, the experience of stretching, pulling, readjusting, and discomfort in a pregnant woman’s body is a necessary part of the process. In fact, as the anticipated birth approaches, doctors pay closer attention to the amount of growth occurring in the mother and the baby. And in most cases, as the little one grows, so does the discomfort of the mom! Yet childbirth is not the only circumstance in which growth and discomfort collide.
We see this connection happening when the student has to take a difficult test to advance. It happens in the workplace as a person has to push themselves to take on more tasks and learn advanced skills to be promoted. Even in one’s first heartbreak, the discomfort of the severed relationship forces them to become better for the next relationship. Though we can never quite outrun discomfort, we can choose to grow!
Biblically, we see those who stay the course even in discomfort. In Genesis 7, Noah is asked to build an ark to save his family, even though he has never seen rain. One can only imagine the days of soreness from building, the frustration when people didn’t believe it, and the impatience as the task lasted for decades. Even still, he stayed the course! The same can be said for Moses, who encounters God in Exodus 3. Moses has been asked to complete a daunting task: to go to Egypt (the place he grew up in) to demand the freedom of what some believe to be two million slaves. The truth is, Moses had a speech impediment, was a fugitive from Egypt, guilty of murder, and the pharaoh he faced was incredibly powerful. Moses was not just put in an uncomfortable scenario, but a dangerous one. And throughout the book of Exodus, Moses had to face discomfort to share what the Lord commanded. The livelihood and future of an entire nation depended on his obedience and his willingness to grow past his own insecurities! And let us not forget Mary, the mother of Jesus, who was asked to carry the Messiah of the world as a teenage virgin. Yet, instead of bowing to fear when she learned about this divine opportunity, she says, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me” (Luke 1:38). These are just a few examples of the countless examples of people in the Word who pushed past the unsettling fear of the unknown to follow God’s voice. And in this, they couldn’t help but grow as they had to rely fully on God every step of the way.
As a believer, I have come to learn that discomfort does not equal disqualification, nor does it mean that I have misheard God’s instructions. Instead, I have found that maturity, wisdom, faith, and hope can grow in these seasons where we are uncertain what will happen next. James 1:2-4, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” My prayer for you today is that you would see uncomfortable moments as opportunities for growth, rather than a sign to quit. The Lord moves radically when we remain obedient in the trials. Even more so, not only are we blessed spiritually, but many others can be from our choice to be stretched. May the Lord strengthen you as you face the days ahead, and may you find peace in knowing that He will never leave you in the midst of it all.
Let’s pray.
Lord, I thank You that You are with me. At times, you ask me to accomplish things that feel daunting to my flesh. My human nature wants to run away or pause the process. Yet, Your Word reminds me of the victory that comes with obedience.
You showed this with Noah, as his perseverance helped save the human race. You displayed this with Moses, using him despite his imperfections. You reminded us of this through Mary, who carried the Savior of the world without complaint. In each of these situations, you were with them, just as you are with me today.
I ask that You give me the strength to face the difficulties of life. Show me how to be patient through the discomfort. Help me to see how You desire to grow me through it all. Through it all, teach me how to completely surrender to You so that I may remain a vessel to be used by You.
Thank You, Lord, for guiding my steps through Your Word. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see what You desire of me most. In Jesus' name, amen.
Discuss today’s devotional with others in the Your Daily Prayer thread on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/stock_colors
Related Resource: What to Do When God Seems Distant
What do we do when God no longer feels as close as He used to feel?
Many sincere believers experience seasons when prayer feels empty, Scripture feels quiet, and God seems strangely absent. For leaders especially, those seasons can feel confusing, discouraging, and even shameful.
In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling sits down with theologian and spiritual formation professor Kyle Strobel to discuss the new book When God Seems Distant, coauthored with John Coe. If this episode helps you recenter your work and life on God, be sure to follow Unhurried Living on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
SHARE
