My niece is a very insightful young woman and posted this
comment a few months ago. It seems counterintuitive to want to get out of a
comfort zone in any area of our lives but it is essential for our physical,
emotional and spiritual well being to do so. Comfort is defined as a state of
ease or lack of stress. This sounds like a nice state to live in but
unfortunately ease and a lack of stress is not often healthy over the long haul.
A rest stop on the journey of life to receive comfort is refreshing and nourishing
but living in a rest stop can get very uncomfortable. Eustress (good stress) is
necessary for growth in the whole person.
Physically if you do not put your body under the stress of
daily work and exercise you will in the future loose the stamina and strength
that you enjoy today. As we put on a few years and a few pounds the more we
live in our comfort zone, never pushing our body or stopping all activity at
the first little pain, the smaller our comfort zone becomes and the less and
less we are able to do. Muscles that never experience stress will not develop
strength and ultimately will atrophy. While our bodies do experience the effects of
aging we should never give into the temptation to never reach outside of our
comfort zone physically.
Relationships are messy. We will have emotional stress
because we have contact with other people. As Tom Hank’s character on
“Castaway” could tell you, Mr. Wilson (the volley ball) was a necessary friend
even though he did not say much. We need relationships with others and
inevitably those relationships will involve emotional stress. This stress helps
us develop social skills, accountability, encouragement, and empathy. All these
are part of becoming a mature person. Though there are times we would like to live
in a cave in Alaska away from any human contact, it would only be to our
detriment and leave us cold and unfeeling.
The most important part of stepping out of our comfort zone
occurs in our spiritual life. God wants us to be content in any circumstance
but not so comfortable that we fail to grow in faith and trust Him for
tomorrow. The definition of faith is to step out of our known sphere into an
unknown future. Abraham “believed God and it was accounted to him as
righteousness.” He is the “father” of faith because he was willing to step out
of his comfort zone, leave his home country, and trust in God’s promise of a
people and a land. Individually we need
to make such a commitment to exercise faith in our daily experience. If we
become comfortable with our level of knowledge we will not benefit from finding
new insight in our daily reading of God’s Word, we will not be able to learn
from others teaching or experiences, and we will fail to learn the lessons God
has for those who “walk by faith and not by sight.” If we become comfortable
with our level of stewardship we will cut off blessings that God has for those
who sacrificially give. If we establish a comfort zone in our lack of witness
we will fail to help enlarge the Kingdom and never know the satisfaction and
joy of following the Lord’s command to make disciples.
According to physiologists, optimal performance in all areas of our lives is outside of our comfort zone.
As a church we too need to live outside of our comfort zone to exercise true
faith in God and His will for us. God has plans to reach our community for
Christ and He has called His church to be the instrument in reaching His goals.
He will build His church and His kingdom. We will have to leave our comfort
zone behind. It is too small for His purposes.
Pray for your leaders as they step out of their comfort zone
at this years Leadership Retreat and believe God for a great future for New
Life.
