Uncomfortable Obedience: When God’s Mission Doesn’t Feel Like a Blessing

holliemccalip
May 6
4 min read

There’s a lie many of us have unknowingly swallowed: that if it’s God’s will, it will feel good. That His assignments will be affirming, fulfilling, and comfortable. But what happens when the mission He calls us to feels more like a wilderness than a blessing? What if you’re being led into something not for your comfort—but for someone else’s freedom?

We often walk away from our calling because it feels too hard, too hidden, too heavy. But discomfort doesn’t mean God is absent. In fact, it might be the very sign that He is doing a deeper work—tearing down what’s broken, rearranging what we’ve built for ourselves, and shaping us into who we were meant to be.

1. Obedience Isn’t Always Comfortable

Let’s be honest: obeying God is not always glamorous. Sometimes it means staying where we want to run. Take Jeremiah, the “weeping prophet.” He obeyed—and was rejected, ridiculed, and beaten for it.

“You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived… I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.” — Jeremiah 20:7

Yet he continued. Because obedience wasn’t about ease—it was about covenant.

2. We Miss Our Mission When We Flee Discomfort

Whether it’s a job, a calling, a relationship, or a season in ministry—discomfort can feel like a warning sign. But what if it’s actually a doorway?

Esther had every reason to stay silent. But when her people’s lives were on the line, she risked everything.

“If I perish, I perish.” — Esther 4:16

Her discomfort became the catalyst for deliverance. The very place she feared was the place God used her most.

3. When Obedience Looks Like Suffering

Obedience doesn’t always look like standing on a stage. Sometimes, it looks like waking up every day in loneliness, disappointment, or loss—and still choosing to trust God.

Sometimes it means staying faithful when people mock you, walking with integrity when no one notices, or continuing to pray when it feels like heaven is silent.

Obedience often costs more than we expect—but births more than we imagine.

4. God Doesn’t Waste the Pain

Even Jesus, in His most human moment, wrestled with the weight of obedience.

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” — Matthew 26:38“Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” — Matthew 26:39

He didn’t run from the pain—He surrendered to it. That surrender became salvation for all.

5. The Illusion of Always-Comfortable Christianity

We expect God’s plan to feel good. But Scripture shows us that many of His greatest missions were wrapped in hardship:

Noah — Obeyed while the world mocked.
Abraham — Asked to sacrifice his promise.
Jonah — Ran from discomfort, then found redemption in surrender.
Jesus — Walked obedience all the way to the cross.
Hosea — Obeyed through heartbreak.
Joseph — Obeyed while imprisoned and forgotten.
Paul — Obeyed through persecution and pain.
Ruth — Obeyed in loyalty and loss.
Stephen — Obeyed unto death.
Daniel — Obeyed in exile.
John the Baptist — Obeyed in the wilderness and lost his life.
Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego — Obeyed in the fire.
Moses — Obeyed despite fear and inadequacy.
Mary (mother of Jesus) — Obeyed through scandal and risk.
Job — Obeyed through unimaginable loss.
Elijah — Obeyed in exhaustion and despair.

Being in God’s won’t mean you won’t suffer—it means your suffering has purpose.

6. When Obedience Feels Like Isolation

“God, I followed You. Why does it feel like You left me here?”

That’s the raw wrestle of faith—trusting His hand when you can’t trace His plan. Choosing obedience not because it’s easy, but because He’s worthy.

Obedience might mean sitting alone, misunderstood, or unseen. But it’s in those moments that God is often doing the most internal transformation.

7. Obedience Is Not Always Applauded

Being in the center of God’s will won’t always win you validation. It may cost you comfort, status, or even relationships. But pruning always comes before purpose.

Don’t measure your obedience by public approval—measure it by quiet faithfulness.

8. The Blessing Is in the Breaking

We often pray for the blessing—and avoid the process that delivers it. But the breaking is often the birthplace of the blessing.

“If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land.” — Isaiah 1:19“Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials… because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” — James 1:2–3

You may not feel blessed yet—but you’re being formed into something holy.

9. He’s Still Using You

If you're walking through hardship, grief, rejection, or deep loneliness—this is for you:

You are still in the center of God’s plan.
You are still powerful.
You are still being used.
You are still His.

Your life—even now—is shouting His name louder than you know. He’s not finished with your story.

Final Thoughts:

Obedience may stretch you. It may break you. It may strip away everything you thought you needed. But if God called you to it—there’s a mission in it. There’s glory in it. There’s a soul connected to your yes. So instead of asking, “How do I get out of this?” ask: “Who is this for? What is God forming in me?”

Because sometimes… the most uncomfortable place is where heaven does its deepest work.

Hallelujah and Amen,

Hollie McCalip