Growth Through Discomfort: What John Smoltz Taught Us About Faith and Perseverance
When we sit across the table from someone like John Smoltz, we expect stories about the World Series, pitching duels, and baseball glory. And sure, those came. What stayed with us long after the microphones turned off was a reminder that growth through discomfort is often the very way God carries out His plan in our lives.
Throughout Greenville and Winterville, NC, families in the autism community know what it means to live in that tension. You step into unknowns. You sit with questions. You embrace challenges you never asked for. And somewhere in the middle of it all, something beautiful grows.
Just like John shared, sometimes the very thing that stretches you becomes the thing that strengthens you.
Growth Through Discomfort: Why the Hard Seasons Become Turning Points
John talked about something we all feel but rarely say out loud:
When life gets uncomfortable, most people shrink back into what feels safe. They retreat. They protect. They try to get back to “normal.”
But John shared a truth that struck every parent, caregiver, and friend in our autism community:
“You can either be bitter or better — it’s just one letter that changes it.”
He explained how the discomfort of being traded, being injured, switching roles, or walking into the unknown was never meant to break him. Instead, it pushed him toward personal growth, deeper trust, and stronger faith.
He moved toward challenges, not away from them. He embraced discomfort and God used it to shape who he became.
This idea sits at the center of every autism journey too.
Finding Strength in the Stretch
If you’re raising a child with autism here in Eastern North Carolina, whether you’re in Greenville, Winterville, or anywhere nearby, you know this deeply:
Your comfort zone doesn’t last long.
There are days when routines shift, therapies change, emotions run high, or progress moves slower than you hoped. There are moments when your heart aches because you want so much for your child, and you’re not sure what comes next.
Each time you choose hope instead of fear, embrace the moment instead of fighting it, and keep showing up, exhausted but faithful, you are living out growth through discomfort, just like John described.
And God sees every bit of it. His strength is made perfect not in our ease, but in our stretching.
Discomfort Is Often Where God Works Quietly in Our Hearts
Smoltz shared how starting a Christian school, something he never thought he’d do, required trust, obedience, and a willingness to walk into rooms without knowing the outcome.
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Caring for a child with autism is a lot like that.
You learn to…
ask questions you’ve never asked
advocate in places you’ve never been
trust God in seasons you’ve never walked
embrace growth you didn’t see coming
But just as John said, tension creates movement.
Sometimes that movement leads to breakthroughs. Sometimes to deeper understanding. Sometimes to community, like the family we’ve built at Aces for Autism.
And sometimes, it simply leads you closer to God.
Growth Is Never Meant to Be Done Alone
One of the most powerful moments in our conversation with John had nothing to do with pitching mechanics or championship rings. It was when he talked about the people who stood beside him before the world ever knew his name.
John shared that while his parents were his biggest supporters, there were others who believed in him deeply too, people who showed up, encouraged him, and gave him space to grow.
“I had a couple of friends that believed in me… but my first coach in Lansing, Michigan was Carl Wagner. He coached for over 60 years in youth baseball. He didn’t teach me how to pitch—but he gave me the opportunity to play high-quality competition and tournaments.”
He also talked about another mentor, Javier Cavazos, someone equally dedicated and invested, and how both men consistently stood in his corner, always promoting what he could do.
Then John spoke about his dad, his biggest fan. The one who never missed a game. The one who believed so much that he made John’s very first baseball card, a homemade card with John in his high school uniform, and handed it out everywhere he went.
At the time, John said it felt embarrassing. Looking back now, it feels like love. It feels like belief. It feels like a support system that quietly helped shape the discipline and confidence he carried into every uncomfortable season that followed.
The Support That Carries Families Forward
This truth resonates deeply with families in the autism community, because growth, especially growth through discomfort, is rarely meant to happen in isolation.
For children with autism, support systems can look like therapists who see potential before progress is visible, teachers who advocate when things feel hard, and caregivers or mentors who create safe spaces to grow. It’s people who celebrate effort, not just outcomes, and who stay steady when a child feels overwhelmed.
But just as importantly, parents need support too. Parents need people who believe in them when exhaustion sets in, communities where questions are welcomed instead of judged, and encouragement when progress feels slow.
Sometimes what a parent needs most is a reminder that showing up faithfully still matters, even when the day didn’t go the way they hoped.
Just like Smoltz wasn’t shaped by talent alone, autism journeys aren’t sustained by strength alone. They’re sustained by people. People who stand in the gap, people who remind you what’s possible, and people who walk with you through discomfort instead of asking you to carry it alone.
This Is Why Community Matters at Aces for Autism
At Aces for Autism, we believe God often works through the people He places around us. Support systems don’t remove the challenges, but they help carry the weight. They help children grow, they help parents breathe, and they help families stay hopeful in seasons that feel overwhelming.
And just like John’s mentors saw potential before success ever showed up, we believe every child and every parent deserves to be surrounded by people who believe in what can be, not just what is.
Perseverance When the Path Changes
John shared a moment that, at the time, felt like everything was falling apart.
He talked about being traded and how, just 24 to 48 hours earlier, it felt like the sky was falling. He questioned whether he was wanted and whether the path he thought he was on had suddenly disappeared.
And yet, almost overnight, that painful disruption became what he now calls one of the greatest breaks of his career. What felt like loss turned into opportunity. What felt like rejection became redirection.
Looking back, John realized something important: his entire upbringing had prepared him for moments like that.
He had learned not to give in when things got hard, but to persevere, keeping his head straight, trusting the process, and moving forward even when the future wasn’t clear. That first moment of perseverance became a pattern he would return to again and again, not just in baseball, but in life.
This journey isn’t black and white. It’s not one straight path with a single right turn. It’s a roller coaster—full of twists, setbacks, pauses, and unexpected breakthroughs. Just when you think life is going to zig, it zags. And while that can feel disorienting, it’s also where growth happens. It’s where resilience is built. It’s often where your story truly begins.
Perseverance doesn’t mean pretending things are easy. It means choosing not to give up when they aren’t. And over time, that choice, made again and again, becomes a quiet strength that carries you through.
“If You Let Me Show You”: Trusting God Beyond What We Think We Can Do
Another powerful moment in John’s story came when he talked about what he calls his “reverse bucket list,” the things he once said he would never do but God eventually led him into anyway.
He never wanted to write a book. He ended up writing one. He never imagined starting a Christian school. That journey became one of the greatest callings of his life.
John shared how stepping into those roles required him to walk into seasons where he had no expertise, no blueprint, and no confidence in his own ability to succeed. He didn’t understand curriculum. He didn’t know what it took to build a school from the ground up. What he did know was that God was asking him to trust, to obey, and to take the next step, even when the outcome was unclear.
At one point in that journey, after trying to make everything happen in his own strength, John described a turning moment when the Lord gently redirected him.
In essence, God said, “If you let Me show you.”
That shift changed everything.
John stopped trying to be the source and became the conduit. He surrounded himself with people who knew what he didn’t. He held the vision passionately but loosely, trusting God to carry the weight of what he had been called to steward. And from that obedience grew a Christian school that has now served families for more than 25 years, along with countless opportunities to impact lives far beyond the baseball field.
When God Leads Us Somewhere We Never Planned to Go
Most parents never imagined their path impacted by autism. They didn’t plan for the appointments, the advocacy, the learning curve, or the emotional weight. And yet, here they are, being asked to trust God in ways they never expected, to step into roles they never trained for, and to love fiercely in seasons that feel far beyond their ability.
Autism parenting often begins with, “I don’t know how to do this.” And faith gently responds, “If you let Me show you.”
Sometimes God doesn’t remove the challenge. Instead, He reveals the next step. He places the right people alongside you. He builds community where you feel underqualified. And over time, He shows you that what you thought you couldn’t do on your own was never meant to be done alone.
At Aces for Autism, we see this lived out every day. Families don’t arrive with all the answers, but they arrive willing. And God meets that willingness with provision, people, and purpose.
When Everything Changes and You Have to Keep Going
John talked about seasons where change came fast and without permission, roles shifted, expectations changed, and there was no time to ease into the new reality. One of the hardest transitions of his career was moving from a starting pitcher to a closer.
It wasn’t something he planned for, and it wasn’t something he felt fully prepared to do. He had to learn on the fly, under pressure, with very little margin for error.
What made the difference wasn’t talent alone. It was perseverance and people.
John shared how teammates who had walked that path before him helped him learn a new process and trust it. Until he reached that point of trust, nothing felt steady. But once he did, consistency followed. He learned how to forget yesterday, good or bad, and show up again the next day, even when failure felt close.
Walking this road often requires learning while you’re already in motion. Decisions have to be made before you feel ready.
Progress doesn’t always announce itself clearly. Some days feel encouraging, while others leave you wondering whether anything is changing at all.
Perseverance in this season isn’t about having endless strength or pretending things are easy. It’s about returning again and again to what you know to be true, even when the outcome is uncertain. Over time, that faithfulness builds steadiness.
And just as John needed others to help him trust a new process, families impacted by autism are sustained through community. Growth happens when parents are supported, wisdom is shared, and consistency is encouraged one faithful step at a time.
A Message for Every Parent in Greenville, NC & Winterville, NC Walking Through the Unknown
If today finds you in a season of discomfort, emotionally, spiritually, or practically, hear this:
You’re not failing. You’re growing.
You’re not lost. You’re being led.
You’re not alone. You’re surrounded by people who see your strength, your love, and your resilience, even on the days you feel empty.
Our prayer at Aces for Autism is that every family who walks through our doors feels this truth:
Growth through discomfort isn't just possible, it’s promised. Because God meets us in the stretching. He steadies us in the unknown. And He strengthens us in the very places we never wanted to walk.
This conversation goes even deeper.
Listen to the full episode of Curveballs and Calm Downs to hear John share more about faith, perseverance, and growth through discomfort.
FAQ: Autism, Parenting, and Growth Through Discomfort
1. How can I support my child with autism when they struggle with change or discomfort?
Start small. Create predictable routines, offer gentle transitions, and celebrate tiny victories. As John reminded us, movement happens in tension, but we can guide our children through that tension with patience, compassion, and faith.
2. What does “growth through discomfort” look like for autism parents?
It looks like learning new strategies, seeking support, adapting in real time, and trusting God one step at a time. Even when the days feel overwhelming, growth is happening in both you and your child.
3. How can families in Greenville or Winterville, NC get autism support?
Aces for Autism provides therapy, family resources, and community support for families throughout Eastern North Carolina. You're welcome here, with every question, every hope, and every challenge.
4. How do I stay encouraged when autism parenting feels heavy?
Stay connected. Find community. Lean into God’s promises. Talk to other parents walking a similar path. And remember: feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it means you’re doing something that matters.
5. How do I help my child grow outside their comfort zone?
Gently and slowly. Introduce new experiences in small doses, model calmness, celebrate attempts, and never rush the process. Growth takes time, but it comes.
Just like John shared… sometimes the very thing that stretches you becomes the thing that strengthens you.
6. What does growth through discomfort mean for families impacted by autism?
Growth through discomfort means recognizing that challenging seasons, therapy changes, uncertainty, emotional strain, can become places where resilience, faith, and deeper connection grow over time.