Breaking the Comfort Zone: From Complacency to Contending

This morning, I woke up before the alarm, which doesn’t happen often, but I felt ready to start the day. My to-do list is spilling over — painting the house, work projects that keep growing daily, and all those little things calling my name. Yet, as I sipped my coffee, I felt a weight that had nothing to do with my task list. Tomorrow’s election and the state of our nation are pressing on my heart. There’s this tension between knowing that only God’s power can move the mountains we’re facing and feeling like we, as the Church, have a part to play, too. And honestly? That part has been on my heart: fasting and praying.

I’d planned to fast — just a simple meal a day to pray for the direction of our nation. But I’ll be real, I forgot. And it hit me hard because, really, what excuse do I have? It’s one meal. And yet I couldn’t follow through. Part of me wonders: could we be missing out on God’s best simply because we’re too comfortable?

This is where contending comes in. To contend for something means to fight for it with everything in us. Contending isn’t passive; it’s a spiritual stance that says, “I’m not backing down.” When we contend, we put action to our prayers. We fast. We pray. We believe. We stay steady and intentional, even when it’s uncomfortable. God doesn’t ask us to be passive observers — He asks us to be warriors of faith. And right now, I believe we’re being called to stand in the gap for our nation, to fight in prayer for God’s will to be done here.

Thinking about it, I feel a bit like the Israelites. God brought them through the desert, feeding them, guiding them, even providing a literal cloud to lead them. Yet, how quickly they fell into grumbling and forgetting who brought them there. It’s all too easy for us to fall into the same mindset: “Look at what I did” instead of “Look at what God has done.” Pride creeps in, and I’ll admit, I’m guilty of it too. I don’t always want to sacrifice, even something as small as a meal for the sake of prayer. And yet, without those small sacrifices, are we in danger of becoming lazy, complacent Christians?

If we stay complacent, what does that means for our future. How would that affect our freedom to speak, to worship, to gather as a church. Could our comfort today bring restrictions tomorrow? I don’t always see the Church stepping up as it should, or maybe I’m missing it. But deep down, I feel that stirring, like God is nudging, “Yes, you’re seeing clearly.” We’re in a serious position, standing at a crossroad, and I believe it’s time for us to wake up and contend for the heart of God, for the heart of our nation, and for those who don’t yet know Him.

The Bible calls us to “speak the things that are not as though they were,” to proclaim faith over fear, hope over doubt. So, I’m stepping into faith and declaring that our nation will turn back to God. Not just our nation — may people all over this world return with fire, with determination, and with hearts that seek God above all else.

Contending for something isn’t easy. It takes energy, faith, and sometimes painful sacrifice. But it’s worth it. Contending means we don’t sit back, waiting for change to happen; we get in the ring. We ask God to strengthen us in prayer, to guide us in faith, and to give us a fire that won’t go out

I’m praying for God’s protection over us, as Psalm 14:6 says, for His judgment in our favor, that He will turn back any evil plans meant to destroy. I pray for God’s justice to shine through, that those working behind the scenes with harmful intent would stumble into the traps they set for others, as Psalm 9 speaks of.

Lord, we need You. We can’t navigate these days alone. I pray that the Church would wake up, that we’d shake off the slumber and rise up, not in fear but in awe of Your mighty power. Let us be a people who stand for truth, who fight for the freedom You’ve given us. May we live with virtue, with boldness, and with faith.

For deeper study: WHAT IT MEANS TO CONTEND

To contend for something means we’re not just standing by, waiting for change to happen; we’re pressing in, praying with intention, and taking action to see God move. It’s like a farmer who plants a seed and then works daily to tend the soil, protect the crop, and water it faithfully, believing it will grow. Contending is active. It’s leaning in with faith and purpose.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God calls us to humble ourselves, pray, seek Him, and turn from anything that keeps us from Him. Contending means doing exactly that — humbling ourselves daily, showing up in prayer, and letting go of things we cling to for comfort. It requires sacrifice, commitment, and a willingness to trust God to bring the growth in His timing.

Imagine contending as going into battle, not with weapons of the world, but with prayer, fasting, and worship. It’s the call to:

• Humble Ourselves – Let go of our pride and admit that we can’t do this alone. Humility is the starting point of true, effective prayer.

• Pray Fervently – Pray with passion, not passivity. Speak to God openly, bringing your fears, hopes, and everything in between, and ask Him to move.

• Seek His Face – Spend time with God not just to make requests but to truly know Him. Reading His Word, listening, and allowing Him to shift our hearts.

• Turn from Comfort and Distraction – Remove things that pull us away from God. Sometimes, this means fasting, setting aside our routines, or giving up comforts to focus on Him fully.

Contending isn’t a one-time prayer; it’s a commitment to keep going, even when it’s hard, even when we don’t see results right away. It’s an active, ongoing call to pray until something happens, to believe for breakthrough, and to stay faithful in the waiting.

Call to Action: Join me today and tomorrow and fast a meal and dedicate that time to pray specifically for our nation. Ask God to strengthen our leaders, to guide the church, and to bring healing to our land. As we contend together, let’s remember that He promises to hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and restore our land. Let’s not give up — let’s press in.

Contending for our nation,

Tracee Padilla