There IS Something Wrong With a Comfort Zone

Someone once said the following statement to me: “There’s nothing wrong with a comfort zone.” As I thought about this later, I realized that I 100% disagree with this. 

If we never do anything outside of our comfort zones, we will never grow. The times in my life when I have seen the most growth or change, spiritually and emotionally, are when I have been out of my comfort zone. These times of growth have been enduring trials that I didn’t want to go through but came out better because of. They have been doing tasks and participating in experiences I didn’t necessarily want to but learned from.

We will never grow or look more like Jesus if we are satisfied with where we are and never do anything “crazy” for Him.

It is easy to become satisfied with who we are and where we are in life. We just want a good job, to get married, have a few kids, and live a safe and comfortable life. Often, Jesus is just an afterthought. Church is just something we do because our family goes, because it’s what we’ve always done, or because we want to be a “good person” (I am just as guilty of this as anyone).

But if you look in the Bible, as followers of Jesus, this is not the life He calls us to. Jesus did not live a safe and comfortable life. He traveled around from place to place, was hated by the religious and powerful elites of the day, and was eventually crucified for telling the truth about who He is because they hated Him so much. 

When Jesus calls us to follow Him, it isn’t easy. He isn’t calling us to go to church or to be a good person. He is calling us to be saved and sanctified, which means we are being conformed to Christ rather than to the world. We have to take up our cross – which means it won’t be easy – deny ourselves, which means turning away from who we are and our old sinful nature, and follow Him.

Spend time with Jesus. Spend time with His people. Go to church. Read the Word. Pray. Share the gospel. Follow Him. This often isn’t what we want, and it is never easy, but following Jesus is far more fulfilling than anything the world can offer and is far greater than anything we could do on our own. 

I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with enjoying what God has blessed you with or having a nice house or any of these types of things. But there is something wrong with letting material and earthly objects become idols and distract us from what is eternal. Jesus certainly didn’t have a comfort zone; if He did, He was rarely (if ever) in it. Christ may call you to do something uncomfortable, something you don’t want to or don’t think you’re fit to do. But you’ll never change or grow if you never get out of that little bubble. Jesus wants more for you than a nice little life here on earth; He wants you to play a part in building His Kingdom. Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him no matter the cost?