We were hanging a sports logo in my grandson’s new bedroom. The vaulted ceilings made us underestimate how high up it needed to go, and we didn’t have a ladder handy.
So, my son-in-law squatted and motioned for my young granddaughter to stand on his shoulders.
Normally cautious, calculated, and careful not to make a fool of herself, my granddaughter didn’t hesitate. She jumped on her dad’s shoulders and stood tall so she could reach the banner and attach it ten feet up from the ground.
That’s how I want to live my Christian life.
FOLLOWING GOD
Like my granddaughter, I want to be daring, confident, and brave, simply because I know my Father’s got me.
Any spot outside my comfort zone initially makes me timid and fearful. But in reality, I know following God means stepping into a life filled with adventure because “the Kingdom of God is not just talking; it is living by God’s power” (Eph 1:19, HCSB).
All I have to do is look at the Biblical narratives.
None of them are predictable or tame. Instead, they read like adventure novels, racing from one surprising scene to another. And the people God used were constantly living outside their comfort zones. God was always moving them, molding them, and calling them to trust Him in unfamiliar, uncomfortable places.
There’s just no arguing the point that following God means exactly that. We follow. Even if it makes us uncomfortable. Otherwise we miss out on His full plan for us, and all the blessings that come with it.
HOW TO KNOW IF GOD IS CALLING YOU OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
What do you feel an urge to do but keep talking yourself out of?
- Walking across the street to meet a new neighbor
- Finally putting your dreams onto paper
- Offering an olive branch in a strained relationship
- Teaching a Bible study
The Holy Spirit is persistent. He urges us to trust and depend on God when everything in us resists doing so. And when we “quench” Him by hardening our hearts, we miss out on a great adventure with God.
If you’re not convinced that sticking your neck out for God is worth the risk, consider these
REWARDS FOR FOLLOWING GOD OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE:
You’ll make room for the miraculous
Have you been depending on God to work only inside the realm of your own possibilities and adequacies? What if you set out to do something that would take a miracle to pull off? That’s how we discover for ourselves―and show the world―that “we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power may be from God and not from us” (2 Corinthians 4:7, HCSB).
Over time I’ve learned to recognize that, when God calls me to a new adventure, He’s inviting me to deeper intimacy with Him. When I depend completely on the Lord to pull me through, I experience His power and presence in a way I’d miss if I kept relying on my own resources.
You’ll enlarge your impact
No matter how much “fun, friends and fellowship” I enjoy and perhaps the church offers, it’s never enough to satisfy my spiritual hunger to “go and tell.”
Deep in my heart, I’m aware “I was made a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power” (Ephesians 3:7, HCSB).
God empowers us to serve. When we resist His invitation, we’re not only disobedient to His command, but in the end we’re left feeling dissatisfied and ineffective.
You’ll grow in faith
Following God outside your comfort zone allows you to experience His presence in new ways. Locked inside the mundaneness of our predictable lives, we miss seeing what Moses, Joshua, the apostles, and countless other believers have witnessed in real time. Instead, we settle for our own safe, calculated, and anemic version of the Christian life.
And our faith remains weak because our view of God is too small.
God enriches our faith as we get to know Him through Bible study and prayer, but He empowers our faith when we follow Him in obedience.
HOW DO I GO IF I’M AFRAID?
Just like that.
Do it scared.
When God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, it wasn’t because there was nothing to be afraid of. There truly were “giants” in the land. The enemies of Israel were vast and strong. Nonetheless, God told Joshua to be strong and courageous because “the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
No matter what God calls us to, He’ll provide everything we need because He goes with us. And although following God outside your comfort zone isn’t always painless, the intimacy that comes from leaning on Him is worth every ounce of doubt and fear we’re called to eradicate.
GET GOING
When a door opens that looks scary, sounds crazy, or defies common sense, don’t close it. Instead, prayerfully consider walking straight through.
Follow God outside your comfort zone. Throw off your natural fears and doubts and leap wholeheartedly onto the shoulders of the One who’s more than able to carry you.
Outside your comfort zone was awesome on right on time for me because I just came out of a 21 day prayer crusade thank you for the word. Amen
I have daughters that need prayer. Especially one daughter. I stopped going to Church years back when it divided. We lost touch with other Christians. Many moved and stopped going to Church. We lost our Christ centered foundation. Please pray for us and her. She has got involved with many non Christians and when I recently got in to a discussion on Being saved she dismissed this. She doesn’t act like she is taking it serious. I don’t know what to say when we got in a heated discussion. I didn’t have facts and didn’t know how to find them. And she brought up things I wasn’t sure about. I pray every day a few times, for Christ to bring her back. I don’t know how to bring a conversation up. It doesn’t go good. I have so much regret for not finding a Church. I have now but she doesn’t attend. I lose sleep over all of this. Please pray for my Husband and three daughters. And a son in Law to find God again. One has a bf and he’s not a Christian. Please keep us in Prayers, and any advice on what to say.
ThankYou always.
I’m so sorry for all you’re going through, and for the heartache and disappointment you suffered at your church. I’m glad you found a new church to serve in. I think at this point I would focus on nourishing your own spiritual growth. Read your Bible, pray, and ask God to help you grow in faith and in fellowship with other believers. As your daughters see the joy and contentment of Christ in you, they will more readily respond when you talk about your faith. Don’t stop praying for your daughters, son-in-law, and husband. I will pray for all of you, as well. Much love to you.