Editor’s Note: Ava Hicks is a junior at UNCW studying Communications with a minor in Journalism. Ava also serves as a staff writer for The Seahawk and a regular columnist for Gospel Gab. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. All suggestions and inquiries may be sent via email to [email protected].

If you are anything like me, you aren’t so fond of being uncomfortable. In fact, you probably avoid discomfort at all costs. This is human nature: we are instinctive beings who seek pleasure and comfort above all else.

This is one of the biggest reasons why our culture is so self-centered and prideful. The number one motivational factor in humans is the desire to self-serve and achieve happiness. This does not mean that all people live their lives for this purpose, but rather that it is an ingrained priority in every human apart from the choices of free will.

Despite our efforts, we all are going to experience discomfort at some point. Some people may go through more than others, but there is no one on Earth who will live a completely hardship-free life.

Often in times of discomfort, we ask God why He is putting us through such a difficult situation. If He truly loves us and wishes us to be happy, why does he allow us to suffer?

Perhaps our quest for comfort is aimed in the wrong direction. Our desires ultimately lead us to seek the absence of discomfort, rather than the kind of comfort that is not circumstantial. A constant sense of fulfillment and happiness that is not fazed by anything you experience in life can be pretty difficult to imagine. However, this sort of joy is what is achieved through building your foundation on Christ.

The whole thing seems so complicated, yet the concept itself is actually extraordinarily simple. Being a follower of Christ comes with the belief that you are loved and worthy no matter what and that everything you go through is working toward a greater good. This mindset greatly diminishes the weight of our burdens and inspires an optimistic perspective.

In effect, the kind of comfort that we seek should not be full and complete contentment through prosperity and pleasure on Earth, but rather comfort that stems from a holiness obtained through faith. Genuine trust in the Lord’s plan provides the greatest kind of peace imaginable, a peace that cannot be wavered by any human or circumstance.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

The words of scripture are intended to encourage and uplift us during times of tribulation and doubt. The Bible depicts many instances of suffering, but these stories are always used as a way to show God’s power. In some cases, God’s mercy is revealed. In others, His almighty law and justice is showcased. But through all of these displays, we are encouraged by the fact that God is always in control and is using our suffering as a way to bring us closer to Him.

Knowing this, do not be discouraged during hard times and do not seek the inevitable absence of discomfort – you will never achieve it. Instead, seek your fulfillment from the Lord and trust that what you are going through is going to make you better and more Christlike. Yes, this is easier said than done, but once you begin to adopt this mindset, you will find that it is more comforting than anything that can be found on Earth.