Jordan Bench

When God Speaks, It’s Not Always Comfortable

Lately, personal revelation has been on my mind.

Part of it is because I’m winding down a few side projects. For years, they’ve consumed me. And now that they’re gone, I feel a bit empty and without a clear “what’s next.” On top of that, Abbey and I have been thinking a lot about money and flexibility. The desire to build something that actually earns is heavy on my heart.

And then every Sunday, church seems to press on this same theme. Revelation. How God speaks. With General Conference coming up in October, it feels like God’s putting this question front and center for me: How does He want me to hear Him?

Desire Brings Direction

As I’ve sat with these questions, one thought has kept returning: all you really need is desire.

If the intent is right, if you’re truly hoping for something, revelation will manifest—ifseeking and you prioritize it. That last part is key. “Do more, receive more.” It reminded me of the old line: what gets measured gets managed. If I actually measure my effort in seeking, and put it high enough on the list, God will guide me.

Comfort vs. Discomfort

But here’s something I’m learning about revelation: safety and comfort can be deceiving.

I stumbled across an idea recently: confirmation bias is all about safety. It pushes you toward familiar choices, low risk, and things that keep you comfortable.

The problem? That can feel like revelation. Safety often mimics the fruits of the Spirit. Peaceful. Gentle. Good. Comforting. All things I associate with God.

But the scriptures tell a different story. God’s invitations usually look risky, beyond our ability, and even uncertain.

He didn’t tell Moses to only speak if it felt safe.

He didn’t tell Noah to wait until the water was ankle-deep before building.

He didn’t tell Nephi to pick up the Brass Plates from the local bookstore.

God stretches us. He develops trust in Him by inviting us into something bigger than ourselves.

Which means… Just because it feels comfortable doesn’t mean it’s the Spirit.

Looking Back at My Own Choices

This hit me hard as I reflected on the last few months.

I had options. lots of them. New jobs. Startup ideas. Paths that looked risky and uncomfortable. And what did I do? Nothing. Because nothing felt safest.

But now I’m left asking: was “safe” really what God wanted? Or did I mistake the comfort of safety for His voice?

That’s not an easy question. Because leaning in, taking the risk, burning through savings, or betting on myself isn’t natural. But maybe that’s the point. God does His best work in the uncomfortable places.

Questions for Conference

So here I am, days away from General Conference, asking myself:

Where should I focus my time and energy?
What career decisions should I reconsider?
What’s the next problem worth solving?
What skills do I need to develop personally?
Should I take on small, unscalable things just to make a little money?
Am I neglecting aspects of life that matter more?
Why does my happiness feel tied to making progress on something greater?
How can I inspire and lead people the way God wants me to?

I don’t have the answers yet. But I feel like God is nudging me to stop mistaking comfort for confirmation. To lean in more. To trust more. And maybe, to get ready for something bigger than I’ve dared to take on.