In our achievement-obsessed culture, dwelling in discomfort is expected. “Smash your comfort zone.” “Escape your comfort zone.” “Push past your limits.” “Defy your limits.” At the same time, so much of what culture proffers involves deepening the ruts of unhealthy comfort zones. How are we supposed to come to terms with these contradictory pressures?

While the Bible encourages believers to step out in faith, trust God, overcome fear, and embrace challenges and growth, it doesn’t present comfort as inherently negative, either. There’s a beautiful tension between comfort and discomfort that allows believers to grow without losing their peace.

The key is balance. We don’t want to be so comfortable as to become complacent, which is where productivity and achievement experts focus – rightly, to a large extent, given the comfort crises our culture faces. For a more nuanced approach to comfort and discomfort, God leads us toward a foundation for growth balanced with faith and action where we challenge apathy and stagnation.

Challenging Comfort

The Bible doesn’t specifically talk about comfort zones but does challenge us to mature. We do this by stepping out in faith, trusting God, embracing challenges and growth, and overcoming fear.

Stepping out in Faith

Through examples like Abraham (Hebrews 11:8), Peter (Matthew 14:29), and others, God shows that not only does he ask us to step out in faith but in a variety of ways. In other words, stepping out in faith looks different from one person to the next. These examples – these people – are not without failures, but that simply makes them more relatable.

While stepping out in faith never looks the same way twice, it always holds the same objective. We must trust God if we are to take that first step.

How might this look in everyday life? Talk to a new person that comes into your path as you go about your day. Volunteer for a new organization or in a new way in an old one. Take a class, both to meet new people and to learn something new.

The people and opportunities placed in your path are there because of God working in your life. Pray for eyes to see and ears to hear how God wants you to step out in faith.

Trusting God

Trusting God – believing he is who he says he is and will do what he says he will do – allows us to take that first step of faith. It also means we trust that who he is and what he does is good even if it doesn’t always feel that way.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:1)

Further, trusting in God requires that we let go of what we understand (or think we understand) and let him direct us. This is so difficult in a world that has lost its sense of what the divine is, that which is beautiful and good beyond what humans can proffer, and what the sacred – that which is holy, set apart, and worthy of awe – looks like.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we become uncomfortable because we trust God, we are better able to face challenges and grow through them instead of finding ourselves hiding through distraction, busyness, and the like. Embrace challenges and refuse to become the refuse of the culture around you.

God knows his plans for you, and he promises to direct your paths. Lean into who he says he is and what he says he’ll do and let the supernatural – the divine and the sacred – become real to you. This may mean we see unclearly for a time, but it also means we are stepping out in faith and trusting his perfect vision (1 Corinthians 13:12).

Embracing Challenges and Growth

Growth is uncomfortable. To be challenged is to confront comfort and decide that what’s on the other side of discomfort is worth the struggle. It’s finding joy in realizing that our discomfort makes us better because it’s not something we’re manufacturing but is instead being directed by the Lord.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)

As we develop perseverance, maturity, and character and as we focus on hope – based on what God says in his word – we find that overcoming fear is simply a part of our progress toward perfection.

Through the struggles of life – both the ones we choose to face and the ones that choose us – we develop the character that leans into who God is. Trusting him as we face the expected and unexpected activity of our everyday lives and deciding ahead of time to step out in faith by smiling, listening, and giving of ourselves as opportunities presents themselves create a mindset that embraces challenges and growth. The more we look for this to happen in our lives, the more we’ll see it happening.

Overcoming Fear

The process of challenging comfort that we find in the Bible leads to increasing resiliency that is based on the strength God promises those who trust him. Further, it gives us boldness found in the power he promises, the love he freely gives, and the self-discipline he develops in us through our struggles.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

God wants us to challenge the comfort that locks us into fear and prevents us from trusting him. He doesn’t leave us to our own devices to do this, either. In fact, our growth, depth, and impact depend as much on being comforted as it does in challenging our comfort zones.

Overcoming fear often starts with a single, small step. Smile at people in the grocery store. Write one sentence of reflection on a struggle you are going through. Send an encouraging text. Ask that new couple in church over for dinner. Go to that women’s Bible study on the night you usually watch your favorite show. Join that book club. Volunteer.

If fear seems too big, conquer it in small steps, while staying aware that sometimes a big one is easier. Trust that God gives you the grace you need for whatever size step you take when you’ve decided to step out in faith and trust him,

Growth, Depth, and Impact

Challenging comfort zones based on the wisdom God gives – stepping out in faith, trusting him, embracing challenges and growth, and overcoming fear – lead to results beyond what we could ask or imagine.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

If you’re anything like me, I can imagine quite a bit. This encourages me because I know he goes beyond my imagination, even that which has kept me locked in fear of discomfort.

Next week, we’ll focus on the role comfort plays in our growth, depth, and impact with the goal of becoming comfortably uncomfortable.

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