Why is it that God forces us to leave our comfort zone? Why is it that the mother eagle pushes her eaglets out of the nest when everything was going so good for them? Why is it that your pastor always seems to ask you to do the “one thing” you determined you will never do? Why do you think God asks people who are living in comfort to leave that to go to a foreign land with the Gospel? Why is God going to touch my heart today to do things that I don’t feel comfortable doing? Public speaking … witnessing to a stranger … helping in a nursing home … making a hospital visit?
I am sorry to tell you … you will find your answer in the Bible. Paul complained about a thorn in the flesh. Something that he was bothered with and that he wished would be removed. As a matter of fact, Paul had asked God three times to remove it from his life! Have you ever asked God to remove that thing that is outside of your comfort zone? Here is the answer God gave Paul, and the answer He is giving us about His reason for pushing us out of our comfort zone nest! “And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’” (II Corinthians 12:9a).
You might complain when God requires you to leave your comfort zone; but God replies … ‘My strength is made perfect in your weakness.’ You might argue with God that there must be someone else who would be better qualified to do what He has asked you to do. God replies, ‘My strength is made perfect in your weakness.’ You might remind God of past failures in your attempts to do the thing He has asked you to do; but He replies, ‘My strength is made perfect in your weakness.’ You begin … oh … what’s the use? “His strength is made perfect in your weakness!”
Paul’s response to understanding this is classic, and it needs to be repeated by each of us who has had to venture with fear and trembling outside of our comfort zone … “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Corinthians 12:9b). Here is the question for each of us today … would we rather stay nestled in the warmth of our supposed comfort zone; or would we rather have the “power of Christ” resting on us? One last thought to go along with this idea today: if God calls us to leave our comfort zone, we can be assured that He has already stepped through the door of that opportunity, and that He is waiting on the other side with everything we will need to accomplish His will. If we don’t step out, we are on our own in the comfort zone; not so comfortable!