We Avoid What Heals Us

It’s interesting how often we avoid the very things that would help us — simply because we don’t like the process.

I was reading recently that if you take cold showers consistently for 30 days, your body responds in powerful ways. Improved circulation. Better skin. Stronger heart function. Increased alertness.

Even weight regulation becomes easier.

And my first instinct?

“No way.”

I love hot showers. They’re comfortable. They feel good. They’re easy.

But apparently… they’re not the most beneficial.

That thought hit me harder than the water ever could.

The Comfort That Costs Us

Then I started asking myself:

Where else do I do this?

Eating healthy is hard. It takes discipline. It requires saying no to what I crave in the moment. Cake tastes good. Processed food is easy. Convenience wins most days.

And yet…

If I’m honest, I complain about being tired. I complain about weight gain. I complain about health struggles.

But am I truly doing what produces health? Or am I doing the bare minimum while expecting maximum results?

It’s uncomfortable to admit that sometimes I want the benefits without the process.

The Spiritual Mirror

Then the Holy Spirit nudged something deeper.

How many of us treat our spiritual walk the same way?

We want closeness with God. We want clarity. We want peace. We want direction. We want power. We want to hear His voice.

But how much time do we actually dwell with Him?

We go to church once a week. We might read our Bible a couple times. We whisper a prayer when we’re overwhelmed.

And then we wonder why we feel distant.

Or worse — we convince ourselves we’re fine.

But inside, our hearts are dry.

Relationship Is Not Works — But It Requires Presence

Let’s be clear.

Our relationship with God is not based on works. We are saved by grace, not by effort. We don’t earn His love by spiritual performance.

But intimacy does require presence.

James writes:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8 NKJV)

Notice the movement.

Draw near… and He draws near.

Jeremiah 29:13 says:

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Search. Seek. Draw near.

Not to earn Him — but to experience Him.

When we talk with Him and listen, we begin to hear. When we speak to Him, He listens. When we seek Him, we find Him.

The process produces the benefit.

We Want the Warm Shower Christianity

If we’re honest, sometimes we want a “hot shower” version of Christianity.

Comfortable. Predictable. Emotionally soothing. Minimal disruption.

But growth often comes through discipline.

Cold water wakes the body up.

Time in prayer wakes the spirit up.

Sitting in Scripture when you don’t feel like it? That reshapes your mind.

Worship when you’re tired? That realigns your heart.

Choosing obedience over convenience? That strengthens your soul.

The Bare Minimum Problem

The hardest part of all this is this:

Sometimes we do the bare minimum… and complain as if we’ve done everything right.

In health. In relationships. In faith.

We say we want transformation, but we resist the practices that produce it.

We want to feel close to God — but we won’t dwell with Him.

Maybe it’s time to stop evaluating our spiritual life by attendance and start evaluating it by presence.

Not a Shirt — A Dwelling Place

Our relationship with God isn’t a shirt we put on to look a certain way.

It’s a place we dwell.

Day and night.

Not out of fear. Not out of performance. Not to impress others.

But because He is life.

Psalm 16:11 says:

“In Your presence is fullness of joy…”

Not partial joy.

Fullness.

Maybe the distance we feel isn’t because God moved.

Maybe it’s because we prefer comfort over closeness.

Maybe we love the hot shower.

But what if the cold water is what wakes us up?

Maybe it’s time to step into the process.

Because the benefits aren’t theoretical.

They’re transformational.

Pastor Scott