Somewhere along the way, I believed a sunshine-and-rainbows version of faith. I don’t think I was alone in this. The idea that living in God’s will means things will feel good, look blessed, and move smoothly.
That belief isn’t biblical.
In fact, Scripture tells a very different story.
Yes, God blesses His children — but not always in ways that feel easy or look obvious. Often, what we call disruption is actually formation. I’m learning God’s blessings may be more about my heart being changed. What I imagined to be true, actually is something quite different.
Our Pastor said something recently that stuck with me, “God is far more of a disruptor than the devil”. We tend to assume hardship means the Accuser is at work.
“Why is this happening?”
“The devil is attacking me.”
But what if it’s not the Accuser at all?
What if it’s God — cleansing us, maturing us, calling us deeper?
Yes, the Accuser attacks. I know that personally. But sometimes we give him too much credit and not enough to our Creator — the same God who tells us plainly that growth requires maturity, and maturity requires pressure.
Most Christians would say they want to “do God’s plan” and “let Jesus be Lord.” But have we really considered what a yes to that means?
When God calls, lives are disrupted…
- Moses was asked to lead a nation while struggling with speech. He faced powerful opposition, led ungrateful, complaining people, and never entered the Promised Land.
- Abraham was told to leave everything familiar and go somewhere unknown. His obedience came with fear, discomfort, and uncertainty. Often his life and his wife’s life were at risk.
- Joseph knew as a teenager that something great was in store for him but he was betrayed by his own family, sold into slavery, imprisoned for something he didn’t do.
- Rahab was a prostitute and risked her life to save the spies when Jericho was about to fall.
- Naomi lost her husband and sons. Ruth lost her husband, refused to go back to her homeland, stayed with a mother-in-law who called herself bitter and had to work in fields before Boaz found her.
- Mary was a teenage girl with dreams of marriage and family. One angelic visit turned her world upside down. She endured gossip and judgment — and eventually watched her innocent son die.
- Zechariah and Elizabeth were old. Very old. Their miracle came late, and they likely knew they wouldn’t see much of John’s life unfold. Their family line ended with him. As someone who has already lost both parents, this one hits deeply.
- Paul had power, purpose, and position. Then Jesus interrupted his plans. What followed was suffering, imprisonment, and sacrifice.
These aren’t exceptions.
They’re the pattern.
We know the “right answer” is Jesus. But living that answer out is another thing entirely.
Grace is free — but following Jesus costs something. There is a cost to saying yes, and there is also a cost to saying no.
From the Porch 🍃
Why share all this? Where I’m at now is I don’t want an easy-button faith. I don’t just want my ticket punched for heaven.
I want a deeper faith, a mature faith — and that desire scares me if I’m being honest. I know that when I ask God to mature me, to use me, He will ask things of me that are uncomfortable. There’s proof in Scripture.
But I also know that in these moments of tension where I’m struggling between obedience and my self, that’s where the transformation happens and blessings multiply. Not outward blessings but my heart, my mind, my spirit, my will changes. Those are the blessings I seek. More of Jesus and less of me.