We talk a lot about boundaries… Setting them, enforcing them, and protecting our peace. And rightfully so. Boundaries are essential for our mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. But lately, I’ve been reminded that there is another side to this conversation. The side where we stay planted, even when it’s uncomfortable, because that is where growth happens.
I had to face this reality in my own life during a season when I was working at a former job. The environment was toxic, the turnover was ridiculous, and there was zero scheduling flexibility. I had plenty of reasons to leave, but for a long time I was torn. I could feel the discomfort, but I did not know what God wanted me to do with it.
Part of me wondered if God wanted me to stay planted in that uncomfortable space. His word says He will fight for us, that no weapon formed against us will prosper, and that everything works together for our good. I also knew that God often uses challenges to shape us, grow us, and even prepare us for the next season. He turns our tests into testimonies that encourage someone else, and He teaches us how to depend on Him instead of leaning on our own understanding. So I wrestles with this. I did not know if God wanted me to be still and know that He is God or if He was telling me to release the situation and trust that He would lead me to where I was supposed to be at the right time.
I prayed, asking God for clarity and direction. I weighed the pros and cons. I did not want to move ahead of Him, but I also did not want to ignore the signs. It was one of those seasons where I had to slow down and really pay attention to whether the discomfort was helping me grow or draining me in a way that was no longer aligned with God’s purpose for my life.
It’s a delicate dance, knowing when to say “this doesn’t serve me” and step back versus when to say “this is stretching me” and lean in.
Honoring your boundaries doesn’t mean avoiding discomfort.
Sometimes we confuse discomfort with misalignment. But they are not the same thing. Misalignment drains your peace and makes you question your purpose. Discomfort, on the other hand, often strengthens your character and pushes you toward purpose. When God is growing you, He’ll allow you to sit in places that challenge your patience, maturity and self-control. The growth doesn’t always feel good, but it’s preparing you for what’s next.
Setting boundaries is not about avoiding growth; it’s about ensuring you have the emotional and spiritual capacity to endure it.
Staying planted doesn’t mean staying stuck.
Growth does not come from constant motion; sometimes it comes from staying still, rooted in a place that feels uncertain, trusting that God is still at work beneath the surface. But here’s the key: staying planted isn’t the same as staying stuck. Staying planted means there is purpose in the season. Staying stuck means you’ve ignored the signs that it’s time to move on. To discern the difference, ask yourself: is this stretching my faith or suffocating my spirit? Your answers will tell you whether it’s time to plant deeper roots or to uproot and replant elsewhere.
Finding the Healthy Balance
The balance is found in self-awareness and discernment. You can honor your boundaries while still embracing growth. You can protect your peace and still show up in places that stretch you. That might look like:
- Saying “no” to what distracts your focus but saying “yes” to what develops your discipline
- Walking away from toxic environments but staying open to healthy challenges
- Resting when you need to recharge but not retreating when things get uncomfortable
Healthy growth requires both space and stretching. Boundaries and bravery. Protection and perseverance.
There is beauty in learning that boundaries don’t mean isolation, they mean intentionality. You can stand firm in your boundaries and still bloom in uncomfortable soil.
Sometimes God plants us in places that feel unfamiliar, not to punish us, but to prepare us. If you’re in a season that’s stretching you, don’t rush to escape it. Stay rooted, stay discerning, and remember: peace and progress can coexist when you trust God’s timing.
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