Comfort Zone or Danger Zone

Life is full of "zones." Some of them are good zones like quiet zones in libraries or fun zones in restaurants that have a game area for kids. Some zones are safety-related like the Work Zones on a highway or Construction Zones on a work site. There are also Danger Zones with signs to warn you to keep away like "Bridge Out" or "Rip Tides-No Swimming."

What about "Comfort Zones?" A Comfort Zone is where we feel the most comfortable. It's where we feel safe, where things are familiar. Everyone needs a Comfort Zone from time to time. We can relax and be ourselves. There are no unanticipated changes in our Comfort Zones, no surprises.

The problem with Comfort Zones is that they can become Danger Zones. When we stay in our Comfort Zones so long that we don't want to venture out of them, they can be a danger to all that we are and could become. You see if we always stay safe in our Comfort Zones, we'll never have the opportunity to see what else might be out there for us. We may miss out on some wonderful experiences.

Sometimes we stay in our Comfort Zones because of difficult situations in our lives or because we don't like change. I'll admit I have my own Comfort Zone. I don't mind change, I just don't like it to happen all at once.

There is a story in the Bible about Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, that makes me think about Comfort Zones. The story (Matthew 14:22-33) talks about how Jesus had sent the disciples on ahead of him in a boat. The story goes on to tell about while the boat was out on the water, Jesus walked on the water to the disciples. When they saw him, they were afraid because they thought he was a ghost. Jesus called out to them and told them not to be afraid, that it was him. Peter said, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."

Isn't that a little like what we do when we're faced with something that's out of our Comfort Zone? Don't we toss out challenges like If it's really you, God, then give me a sign. The problem is if we don't get a satisfactory answer, we don't move from our comfort zone.

So what did Peter do? When Jesus said "Come," he got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Jesus. While he was walking on the water, though, he began to look at the wind on the waves, became afraid and began to sink. Peter called out to Jesus and Jesus reached out his hand and saved him.

How often do we focus on the reasons why we can't do something instead of trying something new? Peter was actually WALKING on the water!! How amazing is that!! I think he started thinking about how it couldn't be possible and that's why he began to sink. But he did get out of the boat. How many times do we "stay in the boat?"

Is there something you've always wanted to try, but you're afraid to take that first step? Is there a trip you wanted to take to visit someplace you've never been, but you're afraid because you've never done anything like that before? What might you be missing out on by staying in your Comfort Zone?

Don't let your Comfort Zone become a Danger Zone.  A Comfort Zone is a place to visit when you need to, but always remember this: Your Comfort Zone is a NO PARKING Zone!  Get up, get out, get moving and step out of the boat!

William GT Shedd, a theologian, teacher and pastor, said this, "A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for."


Step out of the boat, and start a new adventure!