Being Comfortable with the Uncomfortable

“Speak the truth in love.”  Ephesians 4:15

Recently, I’ve been challenged to have uncomfortable conversations, address difficult situations, and make decisions that, honestly, I would rather avoid.  What makes this especially challenging for me is that I’ve spent most of my life doing the opposite.  I’ve avoided hard conversations, kept things to myself, or tried to keep the peace because sometimes silence just felt safer. Silence didn’t “ruffle” feathers.

But I’m learning that being uncomfortable doesn’t always mean something is wrong. Sometimes, being uncomfortable means we’re growing.

One thing about the Hope Street community is that it continues to teach me that I am safe to say and do uncomfortable things. I can speak honestly, ask hard questions, make difficult decisions, and even disagree and still be loved and belong.  Jesus modeled this. He had difficult conversations, challenged people, and spoke truth, but He did it with love, grace, and purpose.

Sometimes cultivating hope means having the conversation we would rather avoid. Sometimes protecting the community means making the difficult decision. And sometimes building community means trusting that our relationships can handle uncomfortable moments.

Lord, give us courage to do uncomfortable things when You are calling us to grow. Give us

wisdom in difficult decisions and grace in hard conversations. Help us speak truth with love and create a community where people feel safe enough to be honest, challenged, and changed.

Amen,

Shayla, Homes Membership Coordinator