Inconvenient
Several years ago, I was listening to a podcast about inconvenience. My reaction was immediate and passionate, because I realized how much of my life I had structured around avoiding it at all costs. For me, it all came down to control and pride—my will be done.
Minimalism appealed to me for this very reason. Owning things means acquiring, storing, cleaning, maintaining, and eventually discarding them. Every possession carries responsibility, and responsibility often feels inconvenient. I learned to pause before clicking “Buy Now,” reminding myself that Amazon’s two-day delivery may be convenient, but convenience doesn’t always equal value.
If I’m honest, I’ve even ended relationships and friendships because they felt inconvenient.
For a long time, I saw this trait as a strength—proof of efficiency and discipline. But lately, I’ve begun to rethink that perspective. (That’s the work of forming a conscience, isn’t it?) In a recent online encounter with Fr. Mike Schmitz, he challenged listeners to stop viewing inconvenience as an obstacle and instead see it as an opportunity for spiritual growth. He encouraged us to “offer up” those frustrating moments as a form of discipline that can stretch our capacity to love. Just because something is convenient doesn’t mean it’s good. Not my will, but God’s will be done.
This is my challenge now: to embrace inconvenience as a teacher rather than an enemy. I can already see the small benefits—like not losing my peace in unexpected traffic. But I know the greater test will come in bigger choices, where inconvenience demands more than patience; it demands surrender. And that, I admit, is a discipline I approach with both hesitation and hope.
Where do you find yourself resisting inconvenience, and how might those very moments be invitations to grow in patience, humility, or love? This week, I challenge you to notice one “inconvenient” situation and choose to embrace it rather than avoid it. Share your experience in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re learning to see inconvenience not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity.
