“Fiction is crisis.” I was reminded of this quote by Jonathan Maberry in a recent Writer’s Digest article, where Ryan Givens Cleave described how fiction thrives on a character’s messy, complicated life. You don’t write about a group of happy people having a lovely day. Instead, you embrace tension, challenge, and the need for problem-solving. “The heart of every story lies in conflict.”

That same day, I was in a spiritual direction peer group, where the presenter noted something striking: every directee who seeks spiritual direction carries some form of trauma that has shaped their life. There is a recurring crisis or conflict. They don’t come to us because everything is hunky-dory and perfect. They come seeking to reconcile their experience of a harsh, imperfect world with the reality of an all-loving God.

Where is God in this mess?

One of the truths I hold onto is that God is right there—in the conflict, the mess, the strife. Especially when it feels like God is far away. So often, we need to be reminded of God’s nearness.

As a spiritual director, my role is to help others embrace—or at least lean into—the tension life holds. I’ve discovered a curious paradox: whenever I allow myself to enter discomfort with openness, I begin with questions. Why am I uncomfortable? Where do I feel tension in my body? What is this moment teaching me?

Healing deep wounds requires tenderness and time. Sometimes even a lifetime. Self-care and patience are essential companions on this path.

Leaning into discomfort and honoring our feelings can be profoundly transformative. Often, what unsettles us contains the very clues to deeper understanding and hidden strengths. By exploring these spaces, we can grow and find peace—even in the midst of struggle.

Are you encountering conflict in your story right now? Are you facing a crisis and seeking clarity or meaning?

This article is adapted from a previously published blog post that I wrote from Wisdom Tree Collective. Leaning Into Discomfort: Transforming Your Life

Thought, Word & Deed

A newsletter by Katie Rea.