Comfort or Courage? Choosing the Path That Leads to Growth

WEEK two: THE MESSY MIDDLE, WEEKLY NOTES

Most of the time, I’m longing for the big miracle. When the breakthrough finally comes, when the dream unfolds, the struggle dissolves and healing feels complete. But lately, God has been teaching me that change almost never happens like that.

My counselor said something recently to me that stuck out: “It takes a long time to eat an elephant with a tiny fork.” Maybe a strange picture at first, but deeply true. Growth rarely comes in quick, sweeping transformations but rather in slow, steady, ordinary steps.

I’ve been practicing this in small ways while working on letting go of overthinking and giving myself the freedom to experiment. I’ve been encouraging myself to say “yes” more often because it’s okay to explore what “new” might look like without needing to commit to it forever. I do not have to have it planned out or be twenty steps ahead.

Sometimes these small actions feel microscopic.

And if you’re anything like me, the combination of overwhelm and tiny steps can make it feel like it isn’t worth it, like, what’s the point?

But I’ve been reflecting on this question, “Am I choosing comfort over courage, and how is it costing me?”

At every Y in the road, we have a choice of which way we will go. Taking that one small step forward, however imperfect, is still progress.

Maybe you need that reminder today, too. The elephant isn’t eaten in one bite. The mountain isn’t climbed in one leap. Healing, growth, calling, they all come with one small action step at a time.

Reminders that helped me get unstuck and walk in courage:

• You don’t have to commit to forever to take one step forward.

• Am I choosing comfort over courage, and how is it costing me?

• You have the freedom to explore new things without committing.

• One step forward is still progress: celebrate small wins.

• And….make a new playlist that motivates, inspires and excites you.