“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.” (Joshua 1:9)

Comfort zones. We all have them, even though we might not want to admit it.

Naturally, we tend to gravitate toward places, situations or people that we feel safe around. Maybe you feel comfortable in your day-to-day routine involving where you live, where you work and who you spend your time with. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, it can hinder us from living life to our fullest potential.

So, what are we supposed to do when God calls us out of our comfort zone? As Christians, we should desire to have a relationship with Christ where we are continuously striving to grow closer to Him.

Sometimes, growing closer to Christ may mean stepping outside of a familiar situation. For example, God may call you to move to a new place, or He may call you to do something different in your career in order to make an impact for Him.

When we completely give our hearts over to God, He can do amazing things through us. All we have to do is listen for His call and be willing to respond in faithfulness. In addition, living for Christ often requires us to do things that go against today’s culture. While this may seem scary, we can always turn to God and rely on His strength to make it through.

A common misconception is that we have to go to extravagant measures to make an impact for Christ. While this may sometimes be the case, it is important to not overlook the small things.

For example, stepping out of your comfort zone may mean starting a conversation with someone you do not usually talk to. Or, it could be as simple as reaching out to a coworker by taking them to coffee.

Moving forward, I encourage you to not be afraid of stepping outside of your comfort zone. When you know God is calling you to do something new, ask Him to give you strength to accomplish what He has called you to. In the end, doing something outside of your comfort zone can be very rewarding.

At Grand Canyon University, we integrate faith, learning, work and service in an effort to honor God in all that we do. To learn more about GCU’s Christian identity and heritage, visit our website or use the Request More Information button at the top of the page.