Mental Toughness for Christians Part 1: Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable

When I hear the phrase “mental toughness,” I immediately envision a soldier, someone trained to encounter the worst of mankind in the worst of conditions. The U.S. Navy SEALs are known for this. Typically called upon to take out high-value targets or gather intelligence behind enemy lines, SEALs operate in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, desert—pretty much any environment, and they’re trained to act with precision under any kind of pressure, be it lack of sleep, scorching heat, or ongoing enemy fire.

These guys are tough. Physically, yes, but mentally most of all.

How would you like to be the Navy SEAL of Christians?

Fortunately for most of us, such a role doesn’t require any specific level of physical fitness. But mental strength, on the other hand, can make the difference between faith that crumbles at the first grip of pain and faith that burns hot regardless of what’s happening around it. That’s the focus of this series on mental toughness for Christians.

Mental Toughness for Christians: What is it?

What, generally speaking, is mental toughness? Oxford Reference defines mental toughness as:

“a quality of mind or intellect characterized by, among other things, a refusal to be intimidated, a determination to finish a contest even when things are going badly, and an ability to control emotions and remain highly focused when under the pressure of intense competition.”

You’ve seen it in action. The best athletes are those who trained their minds to focus on the sport. The best performing artists are the ones who don’t let stage fright run them off stage. (And believe me, that takes some serious mental toughness).

So too, the strongest Christians are those who aren’t knocked over by the slightest breeze or biggest gale life blows at them.

But it doesn’t happen magically, simply because you’re a Christian. You have to train yourself, and that begins with uprooting the lies that undo mental toughness for Christians.

Lie #1: “I can’t stand to be uncomfortable.”

Most of us are surrounded by comforts 100% of the time. If we’re cold, we turn up the thermostat. If we’re hungry, we open the fridge, help ourselves—and overindulge. We’ve been conditioned to crave comfort. This isn’t a terrible thing, as desiring comfort aids in our survival.

But we live in such luxury that most of the time survival isn’t an issue.

It’s time to stop seeing discomfort as a bad thing. If I fear discomfort, then I will never step out and share my faith with someone who doesn’t believe. If I fear discomfort, I won’t speak up when I see something wrong happening in the world.

And if I fear discomfort, I start to doubt God is watching over me at all whenever anything threatens my comfortable lifestyle.

Faith lags when comfort is our main goal.

What does Jesus say about discomfort?

Jesus understands the mentality of Navy SEALs quite well.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness… Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me…. Great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:10-12

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Matthew 16:24

Clearly, he wants us to move out of our comfort zone. If this terrifies you, then repeat after me:

“I can handle being uncomfortable. I can handle being uncomfortable. I can handle being uncomfortable…” 

Beat the Lie: Time to get uncomfortable.

You just read about it. Now it’s time to do it. Take out your journal—if you don’t have one, start one—and write down all the things that make you uncomfortable. Especially the ones that are good for you.

Now pick one and go do it. Then do it again, and again.

Keep doing it until you’re no longer uncomfortable, or the discomfort no longer bothers you. Let yourself experience hunger, or cold, or dampness once in a while. Step out and have those scary conversations. God is still God, even when you’re uncomfortable. And the more often you get uncomfortable, the sooner you’ll develop a more productive can-do attitude whenever you encounter stressful situations.

Start building mental strength with the excellent ideas in Faith-Driven Mental Toughness. And train yourself to see it’s when you are most uncomfortable that God’s work is accomplished.

Lie #2: “It is terrible to stand out.”

Let’s tear this lie part in Mental Toughness for Christians Part 2. See you there!