Everyone likes to work within his or her comfort zone. It’s easy. It’s safe. You won’t fall on your face! You don’t have to learn anything. You also won’t grow.
You won’t grow in skills. You won’t learn anything new. You won’t grow spiritually.
When God pulls you out of your comfort zone, He wants to use you or teach you something new that He can use later, or He wants to place you where you need to be. Whatever it is, God has a purpose.
When’s the last time you got out of your comfort zone?
If God is leading you, don’t be afraid. Jump right out and go for what He is showing you to do. Just don’t get ahead of God while you are doing it!
And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Genesis 6:13-14
After that, God told Noah in great detail what He planned to do and how to build the ark. It took Noah about 100 years to complete that project. It had never rained. He had never seen a boat or a ship. He had no experience building such a craft, but God provided.
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
Genesis 13:14-18
Consider the journey that Abram was told to take. What an undertaking. That was some walk! What was Abram’s response? He removed his tent. There is no indication that He ever paused to argue or question what God was doing.
Most of the challenges God gives us are not nearly as long term or as challenging as those that He gave Noah and Abram. What will you do next time God challenges you? Will you get out of your comfort zone, and let Him stretch you? Will you make excuses and put it off?
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to pray about what God puts on your heart that is beyond your capabilities and your comfort zone. Ask God to give you the faith to step out and serve Him. Understand that when God asks you to do something, He has a reason. You may not ever know or see the reason, but the reason does exist. Then, let God stretch you by taking that leap of faith!