How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

It began so simply…

She needs encouragement, God whispered to my heart. Pray for her.

Easy…I can do that.

Send her a note to tell her you’re praying for her. She needs to know.

Um, well. I guess I could. I mean, I hardly know her, but I can’t imagine anyone would be offended by someone saying they’re praying for them, right?

Invite her to that event at your church.

Wait. Let’s not get crazy here, God! I mean, she doesn’t really know me. It’s a pretty big event, I argued; I’m sure she’s heard about it by now. She’d probably think I’m some kind of weirdo if I just up and invite her–a complete stranger–out of the blue.

There it was: the edge of my comfort zone. And God was asking me to step out of it.

It was such a small step, but even the tiniest step outside of my comfort zone is…well, uncomfortable. If given the choice, I prefer to remain comfortable, thank you very much. It didn’t matter that I had never–ever–regretted following that still, small voice. That I had always looked back and been glad I had stepped out…every. single. time.

That was then; this is now.

Tips for Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone | thereisgrace.com

How do you muster the courage to take that dreaded step outside your comfort zone?

1. Use wisdom. If it’s a small, inconsequential step, look at it logically. What do you have to lose by taking this step? What do you have to gain? In my case, I had little to lose (being thought foolish), and much to gain (offering encouragement to someone). If it’s a larger leap of faith (for example, a life-altering decision) seek counsel from others who have godly wisdom.

2. Recognize fear. Recognize your hesitation for what it is…fear. What are you afraid of…rejection? The unknown? Being uncomfortable? Sometimes simply identifying the fear gives you enough perspective to help you overcome it. If God is leading you, there’s no reason to be afraid. (If you’re still not sure it’s God, go back to step 1!) I knew it was God nudging me to offer tangible encouragement to a woman in need, but I was afraid of rejection. What a small price to pay for being obedient to the voice of God!

3. Just do it. I’ve heard runners say the hardest steps are the ones between your door and the end of your driveway. Basically, once you start, it gets easier. It’s the same way with stepping out of your comfort zone. That first step is the hardest, but I took it.

I sat myself down and wrote a note telling this dear woman I was praying for her and included an invitation to the event at my church. I took a deep breath, said a quick prayer (something like, “Dear God, please don’t let her think I’m a psycho!”) and dropped it in the mail. (You remember mail…those things with stamps.)

I have no idea what she thought when she received it, but the sincerity and gratitude in the voicemail she left me a few days later reminded me once again: Sometimes it’s worth taking that step into uncomfortable.

What is God asking of you that requires stepping out of your comfort zone?

 

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Photo source
Quote: Michael Hyatt

17 thoughts on “How to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

  1. I sat in church this Sunday and cried as Pastor talked about obeying Jesus–we know He is good, but we don’t know what the end result will be. It is human to fear the unknown, but we have to step beyond our fear and trust in the One who knows the beginning from the end.

  2. Oh, I know just what you mean! Sometimes I try to put something off that I’ve felt an urging to do and God always keeps prompting me until I obey. Thanks for the encouragement~I have something that I’ve been feeling the need to do for a while now and am currently in the planning stage to prepare to do it.

  3. Since I have been applying this “just do it” mantra to the urging of the Holy Spirit, I have seen some incredible things. Your post validates what I have been thinking about and working towards for nearly a year…stepping outside my comfort zone and losing the fear. Thanks for the inspiration to continue this.

  4. Hi! Nice to meet you:) It’s always hard when God asks us to step out into the bigger things! Have you every seen Beth Moore’s hairbrush story on youtube? You should check it out. Very interesting, funny and serious all at the same time. Touching story of seeing how God asks us to step out for the needs of others.

  5. Thank you so much for posting this in our pin-it party! What wise advice. Now it’s time for me to step a little more out of my comfort zone too. Thanks for challenging me!

  6. Good for you for listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I know how hard that must have been, because I’ve been in those uncomfortable places before, myself. Lol! Right now, God is asking me to plan a HUGE event that is waaaayy outside my comfort zone. So I’m pushing it to 2016. 😀 I haven’t said “no.” I’m just saying, “okay, God, I hear you, but you also called me to do these other things and I should finish those first. Right? Yes? Right?” Ahem.

    1. Oh, Rosann! I hear you! Sometimes it’s so overwhelming when God calls us to do something. But as my pastor recently said, “God will not call you to do something so you will fail.” True words, but often hard to remember!

  7. I have been on the receiving end of such honors, and it’s amazing how God knows just how much you can take, and then He sends someone your way to remind you that you are being thought of, loved, and prayed for!
    Thanks for being obedient Nancy! Love ya:)

      1. I am really thamkful to God and to you because of I am blessed from topic of this message so glory to God.

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