Warning: Leaving Comfort Zone

No, this picture really has nothing to do with the post.
Except for the fact that you may feel like someone is holding a tiny cannon to you when they ask you to do something out of your comfort zone.
Hey, I tried making it fit. :)
It's Don and Phil Everly by the way.

Comfort zone is an interesting phrase.

What does it mean?

An area in our realm of skill, knowledge, experience, where it's easy to do things, not stressful, but familiar and comfortable.

More often then not, we use it as an excuse. We say something "isn't in our comfort zone", and that's really just a euphemism to say, "we would feel uncomfortable in that situation, and don't want to do it".

Go introduce yourself to that person- No, that's not in my comfort zone.

Hey, you should head up this project- Nope, not in my comfort zone, I'm not a leader.

You should call so-in-so and ask about..- Call someone on the phone? That's definitely not in my comfort zone.

(I know introverts can relate to this, but if you are an extrovert, you'll have to come up with your own examples) :)

Or mine this week:

"I need you to be a dorm leader for Teen Camp this week"- "What? What? Whoa, whoa!" (this really needs a sound clip to do it justice. For those of you who listen to AIO, all I should need to say is Abraham and Isaac)

I love working with kids, but teens are scary, they're outside my "comfort zone".

I wasn't a typical teeneger, so I find them hard to relate to. I know pretty much nothing about social media drama, boyfriends, and whatever else. 

But I do know these will be girls with faults and shortcomings, just like me, that God loves, and cares for, sent His Son to die in their place, and it's my privilege to share that with them during this week of camp.

A scary privilege, but a privilege none the less.

But why should it be scary? Why should I be nervous about leaving the area I'm comfortable being in?

It's in our weakness that God shows His strength, right?

I was talking to Marie, the camp director's wife, and such an amazing lady, and she was saying how it's so much better when we aren't confident in our own efforts and knowledge, because then God can work through us and use us.

I certainly don't have confidence in my own efforts, but did I have a humble trust in God to use me? 

Out of my comfort zone meant out of my control. I could mess up, fail, be embarrassed.

That's not humbly knowing my shortcomings and depending on God to work through me.

That's pride, and self focus.

I don't think it's good to squish who you are in a personality type box, but it is interesting to see aspects of who you are reflected through tests like the Myer-briggs one. 

I found this on Pinterest, and could relate it.

This isn't true about everything I do, but I do like learning things by myself, so that when other people see me doing them, I can do it pretty well and not embarrass myself. I don't like practicing in front of others, asking for help in a rough draft of writing, or jumping into to something with no previous experience. (Although I have survived situations of that kind.) :)

But again, that's pride. Just because I don't have confidence in my own efforts, doesn't mean I shouldn't do it.

If God has placed me here this summer, and given me a job to do. He will provide what I need to it, and then the glory will go to it's rightful place, to Him, and not me.

What do I know compared to the knowledge of my all-knowing God? Isn't it so much better to trust in Him, instead of my own measly "comfort zone"?

We shouldn't even have a comfort zone- an area where we can trust in ourselves that things will be ok. Because absolutely everything in is God's control, and the process of our sanctification will involve the weeding out of things like self dependence, selfishness, and pride, things I often struggle with. 

The theme of camp this year is "Drink Deep", going along with the story in John 4 with the woman at the well.

Anything we try to do on our own to fulfill our needs is useless without God. Only He can provide the living water that will strengthen and sustain us through His power. 

We need to drink deep in that, through reading His word, through prayer, and through fellowship with other believers.

Camp staff 2016

I'm not alone at camp. If I don't know what to do, there's lots of people I could turn to for help. And best of all, God will be with me, and any spiritual insight I can give these teen girls this week will from Him.

How about you?

What lessons has God been teaching you this summer?

Do you have a hard time leaving your "comfort zone"?

"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen."

Hebrews 13:20-21