When God Uses What You Don’t Like

There is a pattern in the way God grows His people.

And if we’re honest… we don’t always like it.

God often uses the very things we would never choose for ourselves to shape us into who He has called us to be. The situations we resist, the seasons we would rather skip, the discomfort we pray away — those are often the tools in His hand.

Our flesh loves comfort. Comfort allows us to hide. Comfort allows us to stay unnoticed. Comfort allows us to avoid stepping out in faith.

But Scripture is clear:

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Notice what it does not say. It does not say without comfort it is impossible to please Him. It does not say without safety or certainty it is impossible to please Him.

It says without faith.

Faith requires movement. Faith requires trust. Faith requires stepping where you cannot see.

And faith cannot grow in a life that is built entirely around comfort.

The Flesh Seeks Comfort — The Spirit Seeks Growth

The flesh says, “Stay where it’s easy. "The Spirit says, “Step where you must trust.”

If we are left to ourselves, we often choose what feels safe. We choose what keeps us from stretching. We choose what protects our image, our pride, and our routines.

But God loves us too much to leave us small.

Sometimes He allows circumstances that force us to rely on Him. Sometimes He calls us into roles we don’t feel ready for. Sometimes He removes what we were leaning on so that we lean fully on Him.

Not because He is cruel. But because He is forming Christ in us.

Discomfort Is Not Punishment — It’s Opportunity

Many believers mistake discomfort for disfavor.

But Scripture shows us a different picture.

Abraham had to leave everything familiar. Moses had to confront Pharaoh. Peter had to step out onto the water.

Every one of them faced situations they would not have naturally chosen. Yet those very moments became defining points in their walk with God.

Uncomfortable moments are often divine invitations.

They are invitations to:

• Trust when you cannot see.

• Obey when it costs something.

• Stand when it would be easier to shrink back.

• Speak when silence feels safer.

Growth rarely feels good in the moment. Muscles grow through resistance. Character grows through testing. Faith grows through dependence.

God Gives You Opportunities to Use Faith

God does not just tell us to have faith — He gives us opportunities to practice it.

If faith is what pleases Him, then He will allow situations that require it.

Sometimes that looks like:

• Forgiving someone when your flesh wants justice.

• Staying faithful when results are slow.

• Leading when you feel inadequate.

• Loving when it feels inconvenient.

• Trusting when you don’t understand.

The flesh wants control. Faith requires surrender.

And surrender is rarely comfortable.

You Cannot Stay Where You Are and Become Who He Called You to Be

We often want transformation without stretching.

We want strength without resistance. We want courage without risk. We want faith without uncertainty.

But you cannot stay where you are and become who He designed you to be.

God will gently, and sometimes firmly, move you into places that grow you. He will expose insecurities so He can heal them. He will confront pride so He can humble it. He will challenge fear so He can replace it with trust.

And when we look back, we often realize:

The very thing we resisted was the very thing that matured us.

Don’t Run From the Stretch

If you are in an uncomfortable season right now, don’t immediately assume something is wrong.

Ask instead:

• What is God developing in me?

• Where is He asking me to trust Him more?

• What part of my flesh is being exposed?

• What area of faith is being strengthened?

God is not interested in keeping us comfortable. He is interested in making us like Christ.

And Christ Himself walked a path that required complete trust in the Father.

Final Encouragement

The next time you find yourself in a situation that stretches you, resist the urge to run back to comfort.

Lean in.

Faith grows in places where comfort cannot survive.

And the very opportunity you don’t like may be the very opportunity God is using to make you stronger than you’ve ever been.

Pastor Scott