“Excited About Being Uncomfortable”

Mike Tomlin became the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2007. In his second year, the Steelers won the Super Bowl, and then a couple of years later, Tomlin led them to another Super Bowl appearance, which they lost to the Packers.

Following Monday night's playoff loss to the Texans, Tomlin decided to step down from the Steelers after 19 seasons, finishing with 193 wins, tied for ninth all-time in NFL history.

The most impressive part of his resume is that he has never had a losing season. He has the record of 19 consecutive seasons to begin an NFL career, without a record below .500, which is five seasons longer than anyone else.

Tom Landry is the only coach with a longer streak at any point in a career, which is 21 seasons without a losing record.

Tomlin has had a steady, consistent career in Pittsburgh, with job security, being part of a storied franchise, a high salary, and regular playoff appearances.

He will now step into something different, which may include getting into TV, taking a break from coaching, and potentially joining a new franchise at some point.

I hope he gets into TV because his interviews and press conferences as a coach were always must-watch, thanks to his memorable quotes and reactions, and I think he'd be highly entertaining in an analyst role.

One of his interesting comments from a couple of years ago is worth revisiting in light of his current situation. He gave us the following remarks regarding the uncertainty, questions, and changes the Steelers were making at quarterback, and also specifically the new offensive coordinator.

Tomlin said, "I'm just excited about being uncomfortable. I think there's growth in that. Whether it's individuals or collective, it's good to be on edge. It's good to have that anxiety or that urgency that's associated with not knowing. And so, that's the benefit that you get sometimes when you bring in someone new."

I appreciate this perspective and his willingness to be excited in this context, and I can't help but wonder if he feels the same way now, stepping into the unknown of no longer coaching the Pittsburgh Steelers and facing a new phase of his life.

We, too, can relate to seasons of change and discomfort. Maybe life was going well with a clear direction and a comfortable situation. Then confusion and uncertainty set in, and now we don't know what to do next. Despite having different options in front of us, it can be scary not having the answer yet.

However, as followers of Jesus, I think we can be "excited about being uncomfortable" because it draws us toward God for comfort and causes us to depend on Him. He replaces our anxiety and worry with peace and joy, and in our desperation, we also experience His love, compassion, and goodness.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV) says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

1 Peter 1:6 (NLT) tells us, "So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while."

Seasons of uncertainty and discomfort also offer opportunities to seek God's guidance toward a new direction as we embrace the change unfolding.

Being uncomfortable can be exciting as it allows us to deepen our faith while trusting and waiting for Him to reveal what's next.

James 1:2-3 (AMP) challenges us: "Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]."

Romans 5:3-5 (NLT) explains, "We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love."

Today, let's choose excitement and joy during the challenging, scary seasons of uncertainty, and trust God as He guides and grows us in the midst of being uncomfortable.

Let's echo what Tomlin once said, "I'm just excited about being uncomfortable. I think there's growth in that."

I'm Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for comforting me in my discomfort. I know these seasons can be good and fruitful as You transform me and open new doors. I pray I'll choose excitement and joy in the face of trials and uncertainty. I know You're good and worthy of being trusted. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.