I do not like to do anything that may seem crazy, dangerous, adventurous or scary to me.
I like to live life safe and in my comfort zone. I enjoy my comfort zone and never do I ever plan to leave it. However, even though my comfort zone is great it hinders me. I am learning that while I am in my comfort zone that I keep myself from growing. I am guessing that you need me to explain this? Here it goes.
When you think of a comfort zone, you think of somewhere that is safe, somewhere that keeps harm and danger away. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a comfort zone is; “a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.” It is here that growth is stopped. The definition of growth from the Cambridge Dictionary is; “the process of developing.” How can you grow when you are in an environment where your ability’s and determination are not being tested? You can’t.
There are so many amazing opportunities outside of your comfort zone. One of them is trusting and surrendering to God. I love the story of Peter walking on water. This story shows what it is like to leave your comfort zone. Peter was a fisherman and knew the boat but walking on water was unknown to him. When he asked Jesus if he should come out to Him on the water and Jesus said yes, Peter was leaving his comfort zone. First by physically leaving his comfort zone (the boat) and second by surrendering himself to God. And what happened? As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus, he did not sink.
You see, God asked me to leave my comfort zone recently (well, to be honest, I kind of was forced to leave my comfort zone by graduating, look for the story in the future). I became extremely comfortable in my comfort zone and God knew before He could give me level next, that I needed to continue to grow which meant leaving my comfort zone. It was after I left my comfort zone that my personal relationship with God became stronger.
Leaving the comfort zone is not the worst thing in the world, it is really giving God complete control of your life (i.e. surrendering). Surrendering to God is one of the best things that you could do because when you surrender to God it is giving God the steering wheel of life and you going for a ride. I am not going to say that the process of leaving your comfort zone is easy, it’s not, but it is part of the process of becoming the best version of yourself. Try it today, surrendering to God and leaving your comfort zone, you won’t regret it!
~Elyse
Bible reference: Matthew 14:22-33
Cites for the definitions
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/growth?q=Growth
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/comfort-zone
