Life is full of opportunities to leave our comfort zones, but we must be willing to discover what God has in store for us.
“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.’” (Genesis 12:1-2)
Abram had a tough decision to make. He could obey the Lord, step out of his comfort zone, and receive the blessings God had for him, or he could disobey the Lord, remain where things were comfortable, and never see God's blessing. We are often faced with the same dilemma.
We’re comfortable in our comfort zone because it isn’t demanding. On the contrary, our comfort zone is relaxing, easy...comfortable. Although we like the comfort zone, nothing grows there. We became stagnant, unproductive, even bored.
Life is full of opportunities to leave our comfort zones, but we must be willing to discover what God has in store for us.
Here are at least 10 things we discover when we leave our comfort zones and embrace unknown, unfamiliar territories.
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1. We Discover Our Calling
“Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there." (Genesis 11:31)
Abram was Terah’s son, Nahor and Haran's brother, and Sarai's husband before his encounter with God. There's nothing wrong with being a son, brother, or husband. However, God has called, gifted, and empowered us for particular works. When we step outside our comfort zones and allow God to use us, we discover our calling, purpose, gifts, and talents.
2. We Discover a Deeper Relationship with God
“The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.” (Genesis 12:7)
When Abram left the comforts of home, the Lord began speaking to Him even more. Abram discovered a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord. He learned to lean and rely upon God in a more significant way. Leaving your comfort zone can result in the same thing. Do you desire a deeper relationship with the Lord? Leave your comfort zone.
3. We Discover God’s Protection
“But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife.” (Genesis 12:17)
When Pharaoh heard about Sarai’s beauty, she was taken to his house because Abram didn’t tell the Egyptians that she was his wife. God protected Abram in his fear. You will make mistakes when you step out in faith. However, just as God protected Abram and Sarai, He will protect you too when you obey His voice and leave behind your comfort zone.
4. We Discover God's Provision
“So Abram said unto Lot, ‘Please let there be no strife, I pray thee between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brothers.’” (Genesis 13:8)
I’ve seen the story of Abram and Lot taught multiple times in multiple ways. I always lean to the belief that Abram should have left Lot in Haran with the rest of his family. However, he brought Lot with him. And because Lot also had flocks, herds, and tents, there was strife between Abram and Lot.
Abram could have handled the situation any number of ways, but he told Lot to choose where he wanted to go. Lot chose the plain of the Jordan because it “was well watered everywhere,” (Genesis 13:10). Abram didn’t argue or fight with Lot. He let him have what he wanted. Abram learned about God’s provision. When we step out of our comfort zones, we learn to trust God with our provision. We don’t have to argue or fight with people. We know God will provide for us.
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5. We Discover Our Strength
“When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, he and his servants, and defeated them, and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative Lot with his possessions, and also the women, and the people.” (Genesis 14:14-16)
If you want to grow and find your inner strength and courage, leaving behind your comfort zone will certainly help. Stepping out in faith requires boldness. When Abram heard that Lot had been taken captive, Abram went to war to free Lot. Abram knew the Lord was on his side and stepped out in faith to save Lot. The longer we walk with the Lord, the more we begin to trust Him. Leaving behind comfort is an exercise in faith. Step out and discover a strength you never knew you had.
6. We Discover Allies
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High.” (Genesis 14:18)
The fear of being alone was one of the things that hindered me from leaving behind my comfort zone. Just as Abram learned he wasn't alone, I learned the same thing as well. God has people and resources waiting to help us when we step out in faith. Unfortunately, many of us want reassurance from people before we take the leap of faith. Over the years, I've learned that help in the form of allies appears after leaving my comfort zone. Don't let the perceived lack of support prevent you from leaving behind your comfort zone. God has your back.
7. We Discover God’s Promises
“But God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.’” (Genesis 17:19)
When God calls us, He doesn't often show us the entire picture. He shows us bits and pieces, step-by-step (see 1 Corinthians 13:9). When we're obedient to leaving behind our comfort zones, God will eventually begin to show us more of His plans and promises for our lives.
8. We Discover the Power of Prayer
“Now therefore, restore the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” (Genesis 20:7)
God desires to communicate with us. Putting us in unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations compels us to pray. A king once again took Sarah. God told the king He would have Abraham pray for the king so that he would live. Stepping out in faith teaches us that "...effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much," (see James 5:16). Thus, prayer is my weapon of choice when I'm facing unfamiliar territory.
9. We Learn to Trust God
“Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.’” (Genesis 22:5)
God told Abraham to offer Isaac, the promised son, as a burnt offering. Yet when Abraham told his servants to wait for him, Abraham said, "...we will worship and return to you." After everything Abraham experienced on his faith walk with the Lord, he was confident that both he and Isaac would return to his servants. Leaving our comfort zones to go on an adventure with God will undoubtedly teach us to trust Him and rely on His promises.
10. We Discover More for Our Descendants
“Then Abraham said to him, ‘Beware that you do not take my son back there!’” (Genesis 24:6)
When we leave behind our comfort zones and step out in faith to follow the Lord, it’s nearly impossible to go back to those comfort zones. When we’re standing in the land of faith, we see how stagnant our comfort zones were. And because we now see that, we don’t want our children to live in our comfort zones either. Just as Abraham said not to take Isaac back to his father’s house, we don’t want our children to go back to how or where we resided spiritually either. Each generation wants better for subsequent generations.
There's much to learn and discover when we leave behind our comfort zones. However, we will never learn or find them if we stay too comfortable. It's time to get uncomfortable. We need to step out in faith and see everything God has for us. He wants us to trust Him. He wants us to rely upon Him. He wants us to embrace the calling and promises God's ordained for our lives. Step out and grab them!
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Aretha Grant serves her local church as a bible teacher and elder. She loves writing and is the author of Overcomer: 25 Keys to Walking Victoriously. Aretha resides in Hagerstown, MD with her husband and two youngest children. You can read Aretha’s blog at www.arethagrant.com.
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