The Power of Holy Restlessness
**Scripture:** *”My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”* – Psalm 42:2
Have you ever felt a deep dissatisfaction you couldn’t shake? Not regular frustration, but something deeper – a holy restlessness?
I first recognized it during a perfectly good season of ministry. Everything looked right on paper, but something felt…off. Like wearing a sweater that’s slightly too tight – functional, but uncomfortable.
Brianna Wiest explains that transformation often begins with this type of discomfort. She writes, *”The discomfort isn’t the problem—it’s the signal that you’re ready for the next phase of your evolution.”* This isn’t just restlessness; it’s readiness.
**The Sacred Edge**
Wiest distinguishes between two types of discomfort: the kind that keeps us stuck and the kind that propels us forward. She calls this second type “self-actualizing anxiety” – the edge where growth begins.
Consider David tending sheep while carrying a king’s anointing. That gap between his current reality and his calling created what theologian Paul Tillich calls “the courage to be.” This wasn’t mere ambition – it was holy restlessness.
**Productive vs. Unproductive Discomfort**
Wiest teaches that productive discomfort:
– Pulls you toward something, not away from everything
– Creates energy rather than depleting it
– Makes you want to take action rather than hide
– Feels like excitement mixed with fear, not pure dread
In her later chapters, she explains that *”transformation begins at the edge of your comfort zone, but not outside of it.”* This means that holy restlessness should feel challenging but not overwhelming.
**The Edge of Evolution**
Parker Palmer teaches that discomfort often points to our “true north.” When David felt restless in the fields, it wasn’t because shepherding was wrong – it was because he was meant for more. Not more in status, but more in alignment with his calling.
Wiest argues that this type of restlessness is actually a sign of readiness. She writes, *”When you feel most uncomfortable, you are often on the precipice of significant change.”* The key is learning to distinguish between anxiety that’s telling you to retreat and restlessness that’s inviting you to advance.
**When Restlessness Leads to Revolution**
The Jewish concept of “tikkun olam” – repairing the world – suggests that holy restlessness isn’t just personal; it’s purposeful. Sometimes our restlessness isn’t just about us – it’s about the changes God wants to bring through us.
Wiest concludes her book by reminding us that transformation isn’t about becoming someone new – it’s about becoming more fully ourselves. The restlessness we feel is often our true self recognizing it’s time to emerge.
**Prayer:**
God of holy disruption, help me distinguish between anxiety that paralyzes and restlessness that mobilizes. Give me courage to stay at the edge where growth begins. Let my discomfort lead not to escape, but to emergence. Amen.
**Action Step:**
Using Wiest’s framework, examine your current discomfort:
– Does it energize or deplete you?
– Is it pulling you toward something or pushing you away?
– Does it feel like readiness or resistance?
Write down what this holy restlessness might be telling you about your next phase of growth.
**Closing Thought:**
Your restlessness might not be a problem to solve but a calling to answer. As Wiest reminds us in her final chapters, *”The discomfort you feel is not the pain of breaking; it is the pain of becoming.”* Let it lead you home.