Tension: The Unlikely Weapon for Growth and Strength

Tension.

It's not a word I ever thought I’d appreciate, much less find meaning in. Like most people, I used to see tension as something to avoid—something that signaled I was off-track or out of sync. I didn’t like the way it made me feel: unsettled, stretched thin, unsure of what was next.

But somewhere along the way, God began to shift my perspective.

Because lately, tension has shown up everywhere—in my relationships, in my work, in my inner life. And instead of fleeing from it or trying to fix it, I’ve started paying attention. I’ve started asking God, What are You doing here? What are You forming in me through this?

And surprisingly… He’s been answering.

The Quiet Strength in Tension

Think about it: bridges don’t hold because there’s no tension. They hold because there is tension—deliberate, measured, purposeful tension. Without it, they’d collapse. The tension is what keeps them standing.

What if the same is true for us?

The tensions we carry—between what is and what we long for, between calling and capacity, between hope and heartbreak—they’re not signs of failure. They’re often signs of formation. God doesn’t waste that space. He meets us in it.

A Different Kind of Invitation

I used to pray that God would take the tension away. Now I find myself praying, God, use it. Teach me how to hold this with You. Don’t let me run from what You’re trying to build in me.

Because here’s the thing: tension is rarely comfortable, but it’s often necessary. It reveals what we rely on. It tests what we believe. And if we let it, it refines who we’re becoming.

So instead of resisting it, what if we started receiving it—as an invitation into something deeper?

Four Ways to Let God Use Tension for Good

Here are a few quiet truths I’ve been learning—truths I come back to when life feels tight, when the weight is real, and when I need to remember there’s beauty even in the stretch:

1. Let Tension Stretch Your Faith

When your circumstances feel bigger than your strength, it’s often a sign that God is stretching your faith—not to punish you, but to prepare you. Growth always requires a stretch.

Romans 5:3–4 “…suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

2. Let Tension Move You Forward

Tension can freeze us in fear. Or it can remind us that it’s time to take a step—imperfect, unsure, but faithful. Sometimes the pressure you feel is just momentum in disguise.

Philippians 3:13–14 “…Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…”

3. Let Tension Shape Who You’re Becoming

Tension has a way of surfacing the things we’d rather ignore—our pride, our insecurity, our impatience. But what if that’s exactly the point? God isn’t just fixing circumstances. He’s forming character.

James 1:2–4 “…the testing of your faith produces perseverance… so that you may be mature and complete…”

4. Let Tension Lead You to Prayer

You don’t have to carry it alone. You were never meant to. Bring your questions, your pressure, your unknowns to God. He’s not intimidated by your tension. He’s present in it.

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

The Beauty in the Stretch

If you’re in a season where things feel tight, uncertain, or overwhelming—you’re not failing. You’re growing.

Tension doesn’t mean you’re broken. It might just mean you’re being built. You may not see the full picture yet, but God does. And He knows exactly how to use this moment—not to break you, but to strengthen you in ways you’ll carry for the rest of your life.

So take a breath. You don’t have to fix everything right now. You don’t have to run.

Instead—ask Him to show you what He’s forming. Let the tension remind you: He’s still working. You’re still standing. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

-Storytellers