Are You Uncomfortable?

John 16:29-33 (NLT)

29 Then his disciples said, “At last you are speaking plainly and not figuratively. 30 Now we understand that you know everything, and there’s no need to question you. From this we believe that you came from God.”

31 Jesus asked, “Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

More verses:
https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/MAT.10.22
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/mat.16.21
https://www.bible.com/bible/compare/LUK.21.17
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.18
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/ACT.14.22.NLT
https://www.bible.com/bible/116/1pe.2.21

A widespread misconception in Christianity is that following Christ guarantees a life of peace and comfort. This can be deeply confusing and disheartening when believers inevitably face trials, pain, and struggles. The peace and joy Jesus promises are not about the absence of hardship, but something far more profound. 

 

The Misunderstanding of Peace and Rest 

Many people read verses like Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and you will find rest for your souls," and interpret "rest" as a life free from stress or pain. This can lead to the feeling that you're doing something wrong when life feels the opposite of peaceful, as if everything is falling apart. The contempt and opposition that often come with professing faith in Christ can make this feeling even more intense. 

However, Jesus never promised a life without suffering. In fact, he warned his followers to expect it. As he said in John 16:33, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." The peace Jesus offers is not a peace of circumstances, but a peace of spirit. It's a deep, internal calm that is independent of external events. This is the peace that allows believers to endure hardship without being consumed by despair. 

The "rest" Jesus speaks of is not a vacation from our burdens, but a new way of carrying them. A yoke is a tool for work, but Jesus's yoke is "easy" because it is a shared one. We are no longer striving and carrying our burdens alone; we are yoked with him. This means we are working alongside him, and in that partnership, our souls find relief from the weight of anxiety and worry. 

 

The Christian Call to Uncomfortable Living 

The Christian life is not meant to be a comfortable one. Jesus himself was mocked, persecuted, and crucified. If the Son of God faced such suffering, we should not expect to be exempt. He set the ultimate example of enduring pain and rejection by turning to his Father. In his final moments, despite the immense physical and emotional agony, he was at peace with God. 

Throughout history, this has been the reality for believers. With the exception of John, all the original disciples were martyred for their faith. Today, Christians around the world still face persecution, imprisonment, and even death, yet they often do so with a profound sense of peace and joy in Christ. This demonstrates that true peace is not found in a safe, easy life, but in a radical trust in God in the midst of a hostile world. 

This calls us to live a life of uncomfortable faith—one where we are willing to be mocked, criticized, and even persecuted for our beliefs. It means putting God first, even when it costs us our reputation, our comfort, and possibly our life. This is where the peace and joy of Christ become tangible; they are gifts we receive not by avoiding suffering, but by walking through it with him. 

The question then becomes: how willing are you to live uncomfortably for the sake of Christ? 

 

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