Good, but Hard

Change, ugh! I am not good at change. I’m adverse to trying new, hard things. It is so much easier to sit in the comfortable space of sameness. Part of that is doing new things is hard. It’s hard to learn new steps, new processes, new technology, etc. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have an idea and then for everything to fall into place on its own, without the hard work?

My other issue with change is that no matter how good the new thing seems; new things involve taking risks and putting myself out there. What if I fail? What if no one responds? What if this new thing is a waste of my time? What if I didn’t hear God correctly? Maybe He isn’t calling me to this new thing and if He isn’t than surely it’s not going to work out.

It’s so easy to get stuck in this discouragement cycle. We can all experience it whether it’s a new job, a new baby, a move, a new ministry, etc. We hear what we think is a clear call from God, we finally get up the courage to lean into this new thing and then the doubt starts creeping in. It comes in many forms. It may sound like, “Who do you think you are?” “Why would you be able to do this thing?” “This is too hard, you are not able.” “I’m not gifted or talented enough to do this thing God is asking of me.” “I don’t have time.” “I don’t like doing hard things and being stretched.” “I’d rather do something fun.”

I deliberately changed my pronouns in that string of quotes because sometimes discouragement comes from without. Whether it’s from actual people or from the voice of the great deceiver, it can all derail us. And sometimes, we are our own worst enemy. We allow the doubts within to crowd out the voice of God.

For me personally, I know what God is calling me to and it is very good, exciting and life-giving. But, it is and will be hard. It is new and requires a lot of risk-taking. Part of me wants to crawl under my desk and hide, while the other part of me wants to dig in with all my heart and soul.

Which voice will I listen to day in and day out? Will I listen to the voice of God who is calling me to this great, new thing and who promises to be there every step of the way? Or will I listen to and allow my own voices of self-doubt or the discouraging voice of Satan to keep me from doing what God has designed me to do?

What good, but hard thing is God calling you to right now? Which voice will you choose to listen to as you lean into this new thing?

“I know that You are for me
I know that You are for me
I know that You will never
Forsake me in my weakness

And I know that You have come now
Even if to write upon my heart
To remind me who You are”

(You Are For Me, Kari Jobe)