We all have emotional and spiritual comfort zones. Cambridge Dictionary defines a comfort zone as, “a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which your ability and determination are not being tested.” It is a safe place where there is no danger of getting hurt. But it is a place devoid of growth.
Another word of faith is risk. Sometimes we just can’t grow if we are too comfortable. Since the second week of January, I have attended a class about growing in spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:8–10 lists the spiritual gifts. Verse seven of the same passage states, “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” In other words, spiritual gifts are for lifting each other.
The class is far outside of my comfort zone. While there is a small amount of teaching, much of it is using the spiritual gifts, namely prophecy through exercises. For example, this week we broke up into groups of five or six and each took turns speaking a word over each person that we sensed God had for them. Only one word. I received the word “success” from someone. Each word given to me spoke to where I am at, and everyone else said the same thing.
After the exercises, we spend time praying for people who need prayer. I had a moment this week when I hesitated to say what I felt God wanted the girl we prayed for to know. Someone in the class pointed to me and said, “Gina.” I still hesitated for a few moments but then spoke it out. The girl kept nodding. It spoke to her.
Giving that word to her meant leaving my comfort zone. I’m very comfortable and safe in that zone. But I can’t be used by God for building up other people if I’m this comfortable. There comes a time when faith means risking being wrong or looking foolish. It is in a community where we can have a safe place to abandon that safe cocoon.
We need community
Leaving our comfort zones requires community. Hebrews 10:5 tells us, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” That passage speaks of the importance of being in fellowship in a community of followers of Christ.
During part of 2020, and for some churches into 2021, churches didn’t meet in person due to the COVID pandemic. We did this out of necessity so we could keep each other safe. It is during those times we could not meet that I learned about the importance of community for spiritual growth. And it is in 2022 that I am learning about how a community can facilitate leaving my comfort zone.
Attending a worship service is not enough for spiritual growth. If we desire to leave our comfort zones, we need a small group, or a class in my case, where we can be real with each other. We all need our community.
Have you found yours yet? If you have or haven’t, comment and let me know about your experiences.
Especially during the last couple years (COVID) we need our communities more than ever my friends I'm afraid abandoned me in 1999 when I was first diagnosed but I basically said,F them and found solice and an entire new group of friends in the parkinsons support group we go out to eat ( not just after our meetings ) we go shopping; grocery and just window especially since I can't drive anymore it's (*they) have been lifesavers