Blog by Carley Hanlon
It is so easy to go through life staying in our comfort zones. My goal for this blog, is to encourage you and challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, and take risks in doing life differently. Stepping out of our comfort zone is challenging but 100% worth it. God did not call us to live a comfortable life, but He did call us to live a bold, courageous, and powerful life. We see that in Joshua 1:9 (NIV): Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go and 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT): For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
I believe the only way to live strong, courageous, and full of power, love and self-discipline is to come to the realization that Jesus has taken our shame. Having confidence in yourself and in what God is calling you to do on an everyday basis will allow you to walk living free of shame. I know we have all been in the season of life where we are concerned about what people might think or say about us if we do what God is calling us to do, and many of us are probably still in that season now. When I was in that season, I would hold back in my conversations and interactions with people and I realized that I was living a small contracted life when God is calling me to live a large, courageous life.
Again, I know the thought of stepping out of your comfort zone can be intimidating however, if you consider these four steps, I believe it will make it easier for you…
Start small
Don’t be all gung-ho about stepping so far out of your comfort zone that you go so extreme that you crash and burn, choose instead to take small steps to make one change in your thoughts, your words and your actions and eventually, you will create new habits.
Look for a challenge
If you attempt to step out of your comfort zone with something that isn’t presenting a challenge for you, then you aren’t truly pushing yourself.
Choose to do something outside of your comfort zone a regular basis
If you do this you will see change occurring. The things that were once uncomfortable for you will become comfortable. Then you can stretch to conquer more uncomfortable circumstances and situations in your life.
Remind yourself why you are stretching
It will give you more inspiration to keep increasing your capacity.
When you choose to stretch out of your comfort zone, you will learn more about yourself, you will learn to laugh at yourself, and you will learn to love yourself more. Sometimes stretching out of our comfort zone is not only for our benefit, but it can be for someone else. Can I encourage you to accept my challenge today – be a person who is willing to sacrifice being comfortable for someone else’s breakthrough? On the other side of the uncomfortable stretching is a beautiful miracle. Whatever area God is asking you to stretch your faith today, I pray that you would be obedient to His voice, take the risk in making the stretch, and give God room to bring miracles into your life.