Step out of your comfort zone for Jesus
Are you ready to conquer your fears and do something bold for the Gospel?
This year, one of my aims has been to get out of my comfort zone. This has always been something that I knew I needed to do, but I was always to scared. ‘What happens if I step out and mess up? That would be SO embarrassing…’ I’d think to myself.
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s felt that way.
But a little over a year ago, I decided I needed to push myself. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and I wanted to GROW (in a spiritual sense, although I’m not the tallest…so growing taller would be appreciated too).
Why is stepping out of your comfort zone important?
I ALWAYS used to want to step out, but things always held me back. I was worried that’d I’d fail, mess up and embarrass myself. But stepping out of our comfort zone to so something for Jesus is a great chance for God to work through us.
Even though it’s not always easy to step out, from time to time we need to be spiritually stretched. I know this can feel a little daunting, challenging, and nerve-wracking, but God will ALWAYS get us through what he’s called us to do.
I was looking through some examples in the bible of people who stepped out of their comfort zones, and there are SO many. Take Abraham, in the old testament. Genesis 12:1 reads:
‘The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.”‘
God called Abraham (then called Abram) to leave his family, country, and everything he was familiar with to go and live somewhere he didn’t even know! If that was me, I would have been super nervous! But Abraham did just as God asked, taking a leap of faith, and God blessed Abraham greatly.
So how can you step out of our comfort zone?
1. Pray. Whether it's talking to someone about Jesus, or taking a risk for the Gospel, ask God to help you overcome the challenges you may face. Whatever is holding you back, let it go and give it to God. He will help you through this!
2. Tell someone. I think it’s great to tell someone what you want to challenge yourself with. Having someone to be accountible with really helps—they can challenge you and push you to do these things that scare you. I know that may seem a little scary, but having someone that you trust and wants the best for you will really help you when you’re stepping out.
3. Remember, it’s a journey. Stepping out of your comfort zone I believe is a gradual thing…it’s not like ‘woohoo, I’m out! Let’s do everything i was too scared to before.’ It’s taking a leap of faith, and step by step, letting God guide the way. He is with us throughout this time, he knows our fears and he hears us.
Growing and changing isn’t always the easiest thing, but the best option is normally far from being easy. However, we are lucky enough to belong to a God who will never leave us or forsake us when things get tough, and will always be there to guide us.
God loves to see His children being obedient and wanting to take a leap of faith for him. Someone once told me that when you’re doing something challenging, see it as a relational activity with God. Through stepping out, we get to know God more and grow closer to Him. To me, that makes it so much more worthwhile!
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