A boat in the midst of a storm
If you’re a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, God has no intention of letting you live a comfortable life.
That statement may seem surprising, even extreme, but it relates a fundamental truth of the Christian life.
To put it another way, the Bible teaches that if you are committed to serving God, you will be called out of your comfort zone. It’s unavoidable; in fact, it’s a key part of God’s plan for developing you into the person He intends for you to be.
Let’s take a look at how that works.
Jesus Called His Disciples Out of Their Comfort Zone
Matthew 14 records a striking example of how Jesus required His disciples to come way out of their comfort zones.
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. … 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
(Matthew 14:22, 24 NKJV)
Jesus “made” His disciples get into the boat — in the original Greek it says He “compelled” them to go.
This was not something the disciples would have chosen to do on their own.
Several of them were professional fishermen, and they could read the weather signs quite well. They knew a storm was coming, and when the big winds started blowing, the last place they wanted to be was out on the sea in a little boat!
The disciples would have much preferred to stay on land where they’d be safe and comfortable during the storm.
Going out on the sea in that weather was way out of their comfort zone.
But Jesus compelled them to go. In other words, He deliberately took His disciples out of their zone of comfort regarding the weather, and put them into a very uncomfortable situation.
Jesus Calls His Disciples Today out of Our Comfort Zones
What Christ did then with His original disciples, He still does with us today. We, like them, would much rather stay in situations where we feel safe and comfortable. But Jesus doesn’t work that way. Just as He purposefully put Peter and John and the other disciples in challenging circumstances that were beyond their ability to cope, He does the same with us today.
Jesus often puts His disciples in situations that are beyond their ability to cope.
Why? So that when we do cope, God gets the glory! That’s something the apostle Paul understood quite well:
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV)
I remember when I, as an associate pastor in my church, was assigned to teach a children’s Sunday School class. Now, I love teaching the Bible to adults — that’s my comfort zone. But kids? They terrify me! I would never have chosen to teach that class on my own. But the experience of having to depend on God in a situation where I felt totally inadequate was a crucial part of my spiritual growth.
What would put you outside your comfort zone?
- Praying in public?
- Going up to a stranger in church and starting a conversation to make them feel welcome?
- Letting people on your job know that Jesus is the Lord of your life?
- Standing up for biblical standards of morality when people around you see such views as bigoted and even evil?
- Stepping out on faith to go after that new job, or to start a business?
- Working with toddlers in the nursery, or with teenagers, when you think you don’t know how?
Whatever it is, God will sometimes deliberately call you out of your comfort zone. Expect it! And when it happens, you need to be willing, like Peter, John, and the rest of the original disciples, to get in the boat and go wherever Christ calls you to go. Sure, that can be really scary sometimes. But that’s the point — Jesus wants us to learn to trust Him to help us be overcomers, whatever the situation.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:25–27 NKJV)
The disciples weren’t just scared — they were terrified! But when they focused on Jesus rather than on their scary circumstances, He showed them that whatever the situation, He was in control.
Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. (Mark 6:51 NKJV)
So, when God calls you out of your comfort zone, don’t let fear keep you on the shore when you know He is asking you to get into the boat. Remember:
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)
Ron Franklin
