Getting out of my Comfort Zone — River Made Farmstead

The snow was falling down like crazy, it looked like a beautiful snow globe outside, and the kids were so happy as they have been asking to go skiing in some fresh snow. So after our morning reading time before we sat down to do any book work for school, we grabbed our skis and headed down to the lake to enjoy the powdery snow. Being outside and active with my kids makes me so happy and full of joy and I am thankful to be able to do these activities with them. As we were skiing up a large steep hill there was a part where it got really difficult to keep climbing without my skis crumbling awkwardly beneath me, My 12 year old son called out “That spot is tricky Mom!” and he started to coach me on a few techniques that would help me get past the difficult spot. His encouragement filled me, and some super human Mommy strength came from within and I was able to get right up (not without huffing and puffing of course) immediately my son said loudly “WOAH Mom!” obviously impressed with my skills (haha) and I smiled realizing how good it felt to keep up with him. Sure I was trying to catch my breath, my ankle was being twisted and there were some mild hot flash moments, but I pushed myself and did it. After I got to the top of the hill my reward was skiing all the way down with my kids cheering me on, and then falling in a heap at the end, getting sprayed in the face with massive amounts of snow and hearing my kids then laughing their heads off at me as I stumbled to stand up again. All in all it was a great morning and experience and got me thinking about something that God has been speaking to me about lately, and that’s getting out of my ‘comfort zone’.

So often we unknowingly find ourselves living a life that revolves around comfort, and it becomes very easy to get caught up in a day to day that leaves us feeling very ‘comfy’ much of the time. If I am being really honest with you, staying home in a bubble with some coffee and books sounds pretty nice to me, and I am sure many of you (introverts) would agree. Not just at home either, it can be easy to get too comfortable at church, with our jobs, and even being a parent. Staying comfortable is easier, there is less to make us worry, less to do, and much less to have to think about.

When I asked friends online what they do to get out of their comfort zone on a regular basis a few of the answers were, going to the gym or working out, starting at a new job where you have to put yourself out there, and traveling with kids. Think about those things for a minute…when you go to the gym and work out for the moment it is hard and uncomfortable, but the benefit is keeping your body healthy and strong. Starting a new job where you have to meet many new people and learn how everything works is terrifying at first, but maybe you can make great connections with people and a good income from doing it. Traveling with kids can be a huge challenge, having them away from their own bed and routine is enough to make them spiral (not to mention the parents too haha) and it’s definitely easier to just stay home, but the benefit is seeing and experiencing new things and making amazing family memories that you never would have had if you didn’t go.

I am seeing a trend here…going out of your comfort zone can be hard…REALLY hard, but the benefits seem to far outweigh that difficulty and be totally worth the effort of leaving your ‘zone’. Taking it a step further, being a follower of God and going to church can get comfortable too, if I never had the courage to start playing piano on the worship team again after 11 years I never would have had the sweet opportunity to serve alongside my husband in a ministry that is so dear to us and see many be lead in true worship. If I never had the courage to pray for someone on the spot as they were going through a hard time, I wouldn’t have been able to share God’s love with them and encourage them. And if I never served in the children’s program, I wouldn’t have been able to see many children make a decision to live for Christ! All these things that came from going out of my comfort zone are so special, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Fortunately I’ve always had that little voice in my heart that will tell me when to do something even though it’s not my favourite thing. Something that I know will be good for me or my family even though for the moment it’s uncomfortable. Or maybe it won’t be as good as I thought, but I felt God calling me to do it. I’ve been ‘blessed’ with that conscience, so I’ve felt that little nagging when I know I should do something even if it’s out of my ‘comfort zone’. But having that little voice of reason doesn’t mean it’s any easier to leave my comforts and step out (it’s actually still really hard every single time!). Thankfully I don’t have to do it alone or on my own strength, because I am weak and if it were only up to me I may still be found in that permanent coffee bubble with a good book ;) gratefully God can give me that strength, Joshua 1:9 says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” and 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” also Isaiah 40:29 “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” God’s word shows us so many times that He will hold us up and strengthen us when we can’t do it on our own.

One of the biggest things I’ve done and still do out of my comfort zone is photographing weddings. If you had asked me years ago that THAT is what I would be doing as a profession, I would have laughed! A ‘shy’ girl like me does not have a job like that?! Somehow with encouragement I mustered the courage to do it once, and realized ‘hey, this isn’t so bad’ I could direct people, and use my voice to organize people and capture their memories in an uncontrolled and high stress environment, and have a lovely outcome. That’s not to say it hasn’t been a challenge and I haven’t made mistakes (because I sure have) but I still keep doing it, and it becomes easier every time. Shooting weddings has allowed us to form our own business and give me flexibility to stay home with my kids when I want to, and still help provide for my family and be creative. I am so thankful that God gives me that strength to get out of my comfort zone so I can do those things!

I took a fun little quiz on new year’s day which was designed to help me find my “word of 2019” and sure enough after the quiz was finished my result was the word ‘Courage’ which made me smile, as I knew that God had been calling me to show more courage and leave my comfort zone more often. For some people it's something as simple as just leaving your house that can be so hard (I’ve been there!), and for some people like my husband you have to literally search for something that is genuinely out of your comfort zone (he’s an anomaly) but whatever it is for you, big or small in the eyes of the world I want to encourage you to keep doing your best to get out of your comfort zone, and watch and see what the Lord can do.

What is something that has brought you out of your comfort zone and been a big blessing afterwards?!

Thanks for reading guys, have a great weekend and see ya next Friday!

-Shelley