Recently, for my birthday, I was told I should live outside my comfort zone. I got thinking about that.
For the past 40 years, that is exactly what I have been doing. How? All by the Power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ! He sent me the Holy Spirit, known as the Comforter. He keeps me strong and stable in the midst of uncomfortable change.
Being outside my comfort zone has become easier for me, since I used to hate change. But the last decade has been a real refining process. Jesus promised me this, and He promises it to all who call on Him:
John 14:16 KJV And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 14:26 KJV But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
He, the Holy Spirit, comforts me, teaches me, and guides me consistently and continually in the midst of leaving my comfort zones. Let me share with you some of the comfort zones I have left over the years. Some were negative changes brought about by people, but somehow God miraculously turned those circumstances for His good plan for me and for others. Some were growth changes. And some were happy and positive, yet still pushed me out of my comfort zone.
Change is inevitable. And at my birthday (Dec 23) and at Christmas, I have been reflecting on my years here on earth.
People who see a stable and consistent working man like me may not understand that I have been constantly stepping out of my comfort zones... and I can only do it by the consistent and ever present Comforter who abides in me, the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ! Praise to Him alone!
Here are some examples of how I left my comfort zones:
1986- Recognizing that the Bible is right: I am a sinner (Rom 3:23), needing God's grace. (Talk about uncomfortable!)
I cannot work for or earn my own salvation, but I NEED salvation. I am doomed to hell and punishment if I stay in my sins. The GOOD NEWS IS I can HAVE salvation if I accept it as a FREE GIFT from Jesus (Eph 2:8)! I believed Christ (John 10:9, John 14:6) for salvation and then I immediately told others about it in church the next day!
1989 - Getting a Gideon Bible and reading it.
1991- flying in an air plane for the first time!
1995 - working in retail! (going for an interview, getting a schedule, working for a manager.)
1998 - going to college, living away from home and family in a different town for the first time!
2000 - Comfort zone: not going to church for years. It was time to LEAVE my comfort zone get back into fellowship! By God's guidance, I did it! After nearly 20 years, I am still in fellowship with this church. They are my spiritual family in Christ!
2002 - attempting small business - and doing contract work for my father (website design). I left my comfort zone (working as an employee) to try this for about 8 months. Eventually I saw that the business was going in a geographic direction I could not practically follow, so I returned to what worked for me. I was hired back to my previous job.
2003- taking out ministry credentials (local license at first) with Anchor Ministerial. Later in 2006 I would apply for the next level (the general ministry licence) and I was granted it as a recognized maturing minister of the Gospel.
2004 - being called a "pastor" for the first time.... a step out of my comfort zone! I was the Youth Pastor back then. Nowadays I am the Assistant Pastor for the church.
2005 - getting married, and learning to share life at home!
2006 - changing jobs! My former company was going downhill fast, and I was given a offer.... to a new position in town. It was related to what I already do, and they were desperate for experienced help. So I took the plunge and left my comfort zone.... for a NEW JOB! It worked out well as my former job eventually disappeared as the company sadly went out of business.
2007 - learning and playing piano at church - and learning to sing and lead worship! (my now-former wife had stopped playing piano or coming to church). I had a background in music and in playing many instruments. Just not in piano. So I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I felt like I was unqualified (I had the basics of chords and pitch etc, but I was not as good as my ex-wife). I felt in over my head. But I kept trying and pushing myself to get better with the keys.... and I grew in skill! God even gave me new songs to write and play. I now have over 10 original songs that are a part of our regular worship services. Oh! And did I mention that sharing an original song also required me to step out of my comfort zone? Seriously, it's a part of my heart... and I am letting others hear something that is personal to me. I am exposing a piece of my inner self. But thank the Lord my church was gracious and allowed me to explore my songs. The songs that really resonated with me and the others in the Lord, they became regular worship songs.
2008 - being abandoned in marriage by a now-former wife who did not truly believe God or the Bible (1 Cor 7:15). Being forced to reevaluate who I am in Christ.
2009 - deciding to KEEP following Jesus, even if no woman will ever support me or stand beside me in my calling (1 Cor 7:17). Divorce was a huge step outside of my comfort zone (my parents were happily married all their lives). But God turned even this for good. This year was a tough year, but a defining moment in my coming of age, in what made me a MAN. No woman could ever make me a Man of God. Only Christ, who is fully MAN and fully GOD, could do that!! And He did, praise Him!
People do not realize the amount of courage it took for me to choose Jesus' path in the midst of my pain and grief. Other men of God close to me told me they do not think they would have had the courage to choose the path that I did (to follow the call of God alone) . But I give all the credit to the Holy Spirit. He comforted me and made me strong, in Jesus' Name! I am still unmarried to this day, and the woman is "not my wife" any more. (Hos. 2:2)
More than ten years later, God has made me strong when I felt weak.
Being unmarried is still not my true comfort zone, but I have learned the BENEFITS of HOLY SINGLENESS (more on that in a minute). I have learned to forget about what I wanted... it was never about "me" anyway. It is all about abiding in and loving God, and about loving and helping the people around me in life. Marriage is now nothing more than a future possibility that can wait until God is done doing good things in my life with singleness. Singleness WAS outside my comfort zone...but not anymore. Now, I am comforted by the Holy Spirit and completely at rest. And singleness in Christ is dynamic, action-filled, and full of purpose and ministry to others. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I decided to take action as a man of God.
Some of my best music, sermons and lessons, and prayers for others have been done as a single! God has given me some great revelations from the Bible!
2009- management change at work was also a huge change that forced me out of my comfort zone. I had to adapt to a new style of management! To this day, I am still thriving at that job, because I embraced a change, and relied on the Comforter - the Holy Spirit to guide me. But make no mistake, it was a tough change. Again, God gave me the comfort and courage needed to hold fast in the midst of the storms of change.
2014 - being asked to start a Christian Singles Ministry!! It wasn't my idea to start one, but I was approached by the church. We had many older singles and some were interested in a group for singles.
I felt the Lord was in it, so I agreed to it, and established the ONLY regular Bible study in the Newmarket area for Christian Adult singles (never married, divorced or widowed). The age can be 18 and up. There is no upper age limit. I knew of a non-regular singles group in the area, but they only met semi-periodically, and oddly, they limited the singles ages to 35 and under. That made no sense to me since singles come in all ages. As long as they were a legal adult aged 18 or older, then they can join in my Christian discipleship Bible studies with music and prayer for singles! 5 and a half years later, I am still leading the Christian singles ministry. I have been given key Biblical revelations from God about singleness for Christ. More on that here:
www.churchonthego.ca/christiansingles.html
www.facebook.com/christiansinglesonthego/
2015 - attempting small business (again) in order to help a friend (and a group) who wanted to try it as partners. I care about people.
BUT.... In this life, you learn that some things are not your metronome, they are not your calling. I learned this about small business. It was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and it was not a happy time. But I love helping people. Through this, I learned that I can help people in other ways. It does not have to be in small business. Some people are truly anointed for small business and marketing. God bless those people as they are truly needed!
SO I know that by at least attempting it one last time, I now have the authority and reason to say "no" to any future business proposals. :) That way I can stay focused on my own calling for this time and season.
2016 - being promoted at work... in an environment that did not seem likely for promotion!! I was surprised when I got the promotion to be a department manager (I was already a key-holder). I was yet again, being invited to step outside of my comfort zone. I did NOT feel ready, yet, here I was, being given a wide open door into more responsibility, more chance at failing, more chance to not have it all together. Yet somehow, God keeps me afloat and gives me His grace. He blesses the staff and the management there. And He blesses me. I am never completely at ease at work because there is always something new to be aware of and there is always something changing. But I have nevertheless been given the room to grow into my position and slowly gain influence and proficiency at managing. THIS is how we learn, by staying in an active environment of change and growth... not remaining stagnant and "safe".
2018 - my dad passing away. He knew Jesus, so he is home with the Lord. He had a sickness that eventually took a toll on his body. But he was ready for heaven. He believed in Jesus and accepted the free gift of salvation from an early age.
But I had to leave my comfort zone anyway, despite knowing all this. I had to get used to not having a dad on the planet, not having a father in the flesh to talk to, confide in, and have fun with. I still miss him and think of him often. But God has helped me adjust and move forward in a positive way. Now, I rely on my Heavenly Father all the more to be my Dad. I am comforted by The Comforter.
Change is inevitible. Except for Christ. He is always the same. The Comforter is always the SAME.
When stepping out of your comfort zones, as I do, remember these comforting words: Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today, and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)
This is my key and my advice for you. When all else is changing, abide in Christ Jesus, who never changes! His Spirit, the Comforter, will comfort you and guide you in your life, when circumstances call for you to step outside your comfort zone!
Merry Christmas! Jesus was born to be our Saviour!
Pastor Curtis A
churchonthego.ca
Christmas Day Dec 25 2019 12:09pm
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