How does God use discomfort to mold us into his image?
God intends for us to be changed into His likeness. He wants us to live as examples of His grace, love, and character in everything we do. However, how does He do this? God shapes us in several ways, including discomfort. Yes, discomfort—those uncomfortable, challenging, and sometimes painful moments we experience. However, why does God allow discomfort, and how does it help us become the people He desires?
God's use of discomfort in our lives
The Bible is replete with instances where God shapes His people through discomfort. Consider Joseph as an example. He went through years of pain and adversity, including being betrayed by his brothers and being imprisoned, but God continued to mold him into a wise and kind leader. Comparably, Job suffered greatly and lost everything necessary, but he also developed greater faith and confidence in God's sovereignty during this difficult time.
God does not use suffering arbitrarily or without purpose. He permits us to experience hardships to hone our moral fiber, strengthen our reliance on Him, and eventually transform us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ. We have two options when faced with discomfort: we can accept it as a chance for development and transformation or reject it and become resentful.
Embracing God's molding process
We must develop faith in God's purpose for our lives if we accept discomfort as a tool for development. Even though we might not always understand why we encounter particular difficulties, we can have faith that God is bringing everything to work for our benefit (Romans 8:28). Rather than scrutinizing God's intentions, we can yield to His molding hand and permit Him to sculpt us into His likeness.
Changes in perspective are also necessary for us to embrace discomfort. We can interpret discomfort as an indication of God's love and concern for us rather than a punishment or a sign of His disapproval. God permits us to experience discomfort to further our spiritual development, just as a loving parent corrects their child for their own benefit.
