Out of My Comfort Zone

I can’t back up a trailer. There I said it. There are a lot of things I can do, and there are a lot of things I don’t feel comfortable doing, but I cannot back up a trailer. I have tried and Husband has tried to teach me but I am unteachable in this. So… this week I had to get a bit out of my comfort zone.

Husband is out of town and a cow needed to be hauled. Everyone else was busy or at work and this needed to be done. I can drive the truck and trailer, I don’t like it, but I can. I can catch the cow up and load her easily, but I cannot get that trailer backed up and I sure can’t back it up perfectly in line with someone’s else’s chute. So, I needed help.

I asked my youngest son to back the trailer up to our catch pen and he did that the evening before. But, he unhooked the truck and brought it home. I was aggravated but I knew I could hook the truck up to the trailer if I had to. It was just out of my comfort zone. I have stood there and watched or helped a million times, but honestly between Husband and my kids, I really haven’t had to do that very often. They take good care of me, until today.

So I drove over and got the cow caught. I backed the truck up to the trailer and hooked everything up. It looked right but was it? I just wasn’t comfortable loading 1200 pounds on a trailer and driving off with something this important. I called husband, no answer of course so I called my oldest son. He answered, thankfully and with a quick video call he confirmed I was all good. With the cow loaded, I headed out.

It was a short drive but there was one problem. The trailer would need to be backed up to a chute for the cow to be dropped off. Thankfully, the guy came out, without giving me too much grief, and jumped in my truck and got the trailer backed in and unloaded. I headed home, happy to have that task done and get back to my comfy little zone.

Do you have a comfort zone? Do you have things that you can do but you just don’t like it? I have a list! I am a self proclaimed scaredy-cat! I hate public speaking, for one. I know that is shocking. But it is true. I am a complete introvert. I know some are reading this that know me and completely think this is a lie. But it’s true! If I have to speak in front of a crowd, I prefer to stand behind a podium so you can’t see my knees knocking! True story. Also, I sweat. A lot. I sweat and my stomach hurts just thinking about having to speak, while speaking and for hours after as I rehash everything and criticize and beat myself up for every word.

But God… in His infinite wisdom has chosen to put me in all sorts of leadership roles through the years and jobs that MAKE me speak and He has tried to nudge me out of my comfort zone. He’s still working on me, thankfully. Can you relate to LOVING your comfort zone and never wanting to leave it?

Where’s the spiritual application? Let me make His point here! James 4:8 was the topic in Sunday School this weekend and in a connected set of scripture, Judges 5:15-17, I saw the comfort zone in a totally different light. “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Could it be that a desire to stay in our comfort zone is double-mindedness? By Greek definition, to be double minded is to have a divided interest. So if I want my own interests, my own zone, more than God’s interests, His zone, I am double minded. In reading Judges 5, it seems that the 2 1/2 tribes that stayed and didn’t cross the Jordan, didn’t just stay for the cattle’s sake and because the land was nice. They stayed because they didn’t want to leave their comfort zone and go into an unknown, seemingly scary place; God’s place, His zone.

I have learned, if I am uneasy and nervous, it is usually because I have stepped into His plan and out of my own. If I’m uncomfortable, it’s ok because that is a big indicator of His will. He stretches us and in doing that we learn and we get comfortable and then He pushes us farther and we get uncomfortable again!

Now, I won’t likely ever figure out how to back up a trailer! But, that’s ok. I know my limitations. But spiritually, in Him there is nothing that I cannot do. And as long as I remain in Him, as long as I work within His plan and His strength and righteousness, I will be ok!

My comfort zone is easy and in it, I get the glory. But when I get out of my comfort zone, God gets ALL OF THE GLORY! Get out of your comfort zone and watch God work. Go where He calls you. Speak what He says. Do what He tells you and let God take care of the rest!