November 13, 2024

Faith and Comfort Zones

By Marie Story

I often hear people talking about “getting out of your comfort zone.” I hate hearing that. I admit that I like my comfort zones. I don’t like doing new things—especially if it’s something I don’t understand or don’t think I’ll do well at. I find it really difficult to take risks, even calculated risks, because risks are uncomfortable and take me into the zone of the unknown.

Lately, however, I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone on a regular basis, and in that setting, I very quickly start to feel overwhelmed. It’s not the work that I’m afraid of—it’s the idea. As I begin to contemplate the magnitude of some project or venture, I start to shrivel inside, mentally backing away in consternation.

As I was discussing a concept for a new project with a friend some time ago, he was explaining his ideas. He’s the type of person who thinks big, detailed, and long-term—he’s definitely not scared off by the work or the risks. In fact, for him, the bigger and more out-of-the-box, the better. He was laying out his plan and automatically my mind started shutting down, shrinking back, and going into “overwhelm” mode. My eyes started to glaze over, and he noticed.

“What’s up?”

“Well …” I stammered, while trying to look supportive, “umm … it’s a good plan, but it seems a bit big, a bit overwhelming to me.”

“Is it the idea that is overwhelming you, or are you struggling with the idea of introducing change?”

This was food for thought (though I didn’t like to admit it), and I took some time with the Lord in prayer about it. I realized I was a bit of a wimp when it came to stepping outside my comfort zone, and that this was going to hold me back in life, and I needed a plan to grow my faith for change. Here is a three-step faith-building plan that worked for me, so I thought I’d share it with you—in case you find yourself in a similar situation:

Step one: Feed your faith. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and that we need to desire God’s Word so that we can grow thereby (Romans 10:17; 1 Peter 2:2). If we want to grow in faith, we need to ensure we have a healthy Word diet. Just like our bodies can’t survive on a diet of junk food—or even on an occasional good meal—our faith won’t grow, much less thrive, unless we’re faithful to take in good, spiritually feeding input.

Read things that feed your faith. The Bible is bursting with promises that God has made to us and teachings that will guide us through life and give us principles to make godly decisions. His Word will guide us in our transformation process and help us to not fall into the pitfall of conforming to this world, and guide us to discern the good and perfect and acceptable will of God (Romans 12:2). When your heart is full of God’s Word, His truth, and His promises, your faith won’t be easily shaken.

Step two: Strengthen your faith. Our faith doesn’t thrive when we choose the comfortable option to avoid sacrifice, struggle, or challenges. When all our needs are covered, when we can handle the work on our own, when we are confident about what’s ahead—that’s when we can be tempted to try to carry all the weight ourselves. It’s when things are difficult, and when we just can’t carry the load, that our faith is strengthened, because we have to intentionally come to Jesus and hand the load over to Him and place our trust in Him (Matthew 11:28–30).

The Bible says to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding,” or your own strength, “and He will direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5–6). And “Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:22). That means putting your weight down. And as we do that—as we depend more on Jesus and put our trust in His promises—our faith will be strengthened.

Step three: Stretch your faith. Be prepared to step out to do those things that seem overwhelming that God calls you to do. In other words, step out of your comfort zone. Often difficulties or challenges present themselves in our everyday lives and we don’t have a choice but to take them on. But at other times, God brings new opportunities into our lives and we need to be willing to stretch and choose to step out by faith and trust in His plan, even if we can’t know the outcome for sure.

When we read stories in the Bible, we see that many times people were placed in difficult situations where their faith had to grow to meet the need; at other times God waited for them to choose to take a step of faith before He performed the miracle.

For example, when Jesus came walking on the water toward His disciples, it was in the midst of a storm, and the boat was a long way from land and being “beaten by the waves and the wind was against them.” Jesus calmed the winds, and that was a great miracle, and it strengthened their faith, and they “worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’”

But the story that everyone remembers from this passage started when Peter took a literal step of faith out of the boat onto the water. He didn’t have to do that, but he chose to. He said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water” (Matthew 14:24–33)

So, what’s the point of growing and strengthening our faith? Jesus said that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains (Matthew 17:20–21). And sometimes that small faith is all we can muster, but nonetheless, “all things are possible if you can believe” (Mark 9:23).

God has plans for each of our lives, and step by step He prepares us for those plans. However, sometimes we have to step out by faith and reach toward those plans (whether we know how things will turn out or not). We need to take action and start building on what God’s will is for us. If we hold back until everything is “safe,” we may miss out.

The book of Romans highlights the example of the faith of Abraham, who “did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.” That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” This passage goes on to tell us that the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead (Romans 4:20–24).

One definition of faith is “confidence or trust in another’s ability.” Faith starts with acknowledging that we’re incapable in ourselves, but we are still stepping out by faith to do what God asks of us because we trust in His ability to work through us (Philippians 2:13).

I’ve still got a long way to go in strengthening my faith. I am, however, starting to look at each “overwhelming” situation as an opportunity for a faith workout!

Adapted from a Just1Thing podcast, a Christian character-building resource for young people.

Posted in: change, faith, following god, guest contribution