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“The comfort zone is a nice place, but nothing grows there.” -Caroline Cummings.

Who doesn’t love to be comfortable?

We spend so much money and time on things in order to keep ourselves comfortable.

From AC in the summer to heat in the winter. That blanket on the back of your couch in case someone is more cold than you. Those fancy pillows and blankets, vehicles with the latest and greatest, to even having Alexa and Siri do things for us so that we don’t have to get up or move.

We love our microwave so that we can heat something up without having to stand over a stove for hours. We have all kinds of delivery services so we can order groceries without having to shop. We can purchase gifts and even have them wrapped and delivered straight to the recipient without needing to go to the stores. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable. The problem is when we become too comfortable.

You see, we weren’t created to just be comfortable. God calls us to live for something bigger and better. We stay in situations out of being comfortable, and we never grow or develop to our full potential. Folks remain in a spot because their family does so, or because they have done so for years, because I don’t want to upset anyone, or because, well, we are comfortable, without thought of doing what is best for ourselves or our family in order for them to grow and become stronger, better, and be well fed. From the jobs we have, the places we go, the church we attend, the person we listen too, we get comfortable and just stay right where we are. Caroline Cummings is right; “The comfort zone is a nice place, but nothing grows there.”

With so many passages like Joshua 1:9; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 2 Timothy 1:7; Philippians 4:13; John 15:16; James 1:22 and more on this topic, let’s keep it simple with Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.”

Block the noise around you. Stop listening to the ways of society. Stop feeling pressured to say or do anything. Everything you ever wanted is just one step outside your comfort zone.

The hardest step is to stop listening to the doubts and fears.

Trust God. Be the good needed. Shine bright. Love to no end. Forgive and forget. Grow.

Nothing grows in a comfort zone, but when we allow God to lead? There’s no stopping you. #bethegood

Rev. J. Cameron Bailey is pastor of Kenbridge Christian Church. He can be reached at jamescameronbailey@gmail.com.