A soft sofa, TV remote in one hand, Pringles and a can of juice in the other hand. Legs crossed. Now, that’s my classic comfort zone. I could stay for hours in that position without flinching. 
So there I am in that pleasant position. Days turn into weeks and weeks to months. I haven’t stepped out. I’m way too comfortable to do so.

But then there’s this rocking sound I hear. I can feel the sofa shaking. The TV image is scrambled. The Pringles have become way too salty for my taste. The chair is rocking. Not the soothing rocking of an old rocking chair but the turbulent shaking that shows someone wants you off that seat. Regardless of the scrambled image, I squint to watch. Even though the Pringles are now really salty, I’m still crunching them with distaste.

The rocking gets more persistent. Who’s rocking my chair? I’m holding on tightly. Grabbing the sofa with my un-manicured fingernails. Slowly and surely, it slips out of my grip. I tumble and fall. Oh, wait! This is pretty soft as well. What’s this? It is the lush green grass beneath the blue sky. No big screen TV. No snacks. No sofa. Just a vast space. What do I do with this? Where do I hide? Where do I seek comfort? 

‘Stand up,’ He says, ‘Explore. Rule the world.’ I’d rather rule the world in front of my TV screen. But now that’s gone. Fearfully I take a step. Uncertain. There could be wild animals out there. I withdraw. Finding comfort in the lush grasses.
The sun awakens in its full glory. Drying up the grasses. Green to gold, so they turn. They prick me off my butt. Now I stand. Confused. Should I turn to the left or to the right? ‘Just take a step in faith and I’ll lead the way,’ the voice instructs. I take a step. And another. Now I’m exploring exciting places I never knew existed. I slip and fall but He quickly picks me up. I learn and unlearn. I’m growing. I’m stretching. There’s so much more for me out here. My heart beats faster. I’ve got a spring in my step. I love it out here. It’s exhilarating! Who could have thought that I’d love the world outside my comfort zone? ‘Me, of course’ He replies with a knowing smile.

We all get so comfortable and satisfied with a favourable condition that we find it so hard to step out of it. We wallow in our comfort zones like ducks in a muddy puddle, oblivious to the beautiful stream of life out there. Sometimes God has to rock you out of your comfort zone to take you to where He has destined you to be. This rocking could be in the form of oppositions, dissatisfaction, feelings of un-fulfilment, discontentment…you begin to long for something more. Your heart tells you there’s much more you can do. But some of us would rather cling to our comfort zones. Too scared to step out.

I know that feeling all too well. I don’t like change especially when it involves moving from a place to another. Come on! I even have a favourite seat on the bus! I love routines so much that stepping out of my routine can disorient me. But oftentimes I feel that uneasy rocking of the chair. I know a shift is coming. But I’m way too scared to step out in faith. Fear. False Evidence Appearing Real. It robs us of the opportunity to be happy and fulfilled. What if I don’t make it? What if I fall? What if they hate this post? Oh my dear, what if they like it? What if you make it? What if you rise? Think positive.

Step out of your comfort zone. It’s high time! With every step you take in faith, be confident in the one who promised ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’ or put differently ‘Lo, I’m with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Tell fear to ‘suck it!’ and surprise yourself as you take on new and exciting challenges.

It’s always my desire that you live victoriously!

Happy new week!

© Mfon Etuk, 2015