Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

Sometimes the Lord calls us to step out of our comfort zone. It's never easy. Look at Moses, the Lord called Him to lead His people out of Egypt. Moses didn't jump right in and atomatically obey. He was scared, he was out of his comfort zone. When the Lord called Him to do this Moses argued with the Lord. He said "Well you know God, they probably won't listen to me and I'm not a good speaker. Can't you just send someone else?" But God reassured Moses that he was the man God wanted for the job. Moses looked at his own weakness instead of God's strength. The Bible says, "Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses," the Lord fully intended to equip Moses for the job if he would just trust in Him. The Lord sent Moses's brother Aaron to help him. God promises that He will never leave us or forsake us (Joshua 1:5). So why is it that when God calls us to a task that is out of our comfort zone to we tend to arguee with Him?

Last year was my first year as VBS director at our church. When I was first approached about it my thoughts atomatically went to, "Oh there is no way I can do that. I'm not an organized person or a leader". But God kind of nudged me about doing it so I gave in a did it. I'm a very insecure person and a people pleaser, so during planning I kept worrying if I was doing everything ok or would I upset anyone or was I doing it all wrong. But the Lord sent so many people around me to encourage me. He gave me a confidence I never knew I had. I took charge and led. I saw a new side to myself and really liked it. I never would have pictured myself as a leader, and especially never thought I would be good at doing it.

A few months ago I stood up and shared my testimony in front of about 200 teen girls at an event. I WAS TERRIFIED! I had prayed and prayed for the Lord to give me courage but I was still shaking like a leaf and scared to death. A few minutes before the other two ladies who were also sharing and I went on a woman wrapped her arms around our shoulders and prayed over us. I suddenly felt my fear leave and a confidence fill me. I stood up and spoke the words of how God brought me out of my darkness and began to restore me.

Recently God has called me out of my comfort zone through blogging and signing up to lead a Hello Mornings group. I can honestly say that I fret and worry that no one will read the words I write or that no one will sign up for my group. But again the Lord has provided for me. He has sent someone across my path daily to show me encouragement and support.

So it leaves me wondering, how many times to I hinder the blessings and the great things the Lord has planned for me? How often do I stand in His way while He is trying to do something great in my life? Why do I only focus on my weaknesses and  not His strengths? These are questions that I am laying before the Lord. But now that I see this I am trying to be more aware when He is trying to work through me. So the the words I leave you with today I want you to right down and pin them up in a place that you can see them daily as a reminder that when the Lord pulls you out of your comfort zone its for something greater than you can imagine! Let go of who you are not and embrace who God is making you to be.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10