Comfort Zones of Complacency

A few months ago I was choosing classes for the spring semester and I was in debate on whether to take Biochemistry 2. I knew I enjoyed biochemistry 1, but I also knew that biochem 2 would be a difficult course. I researched information on what would be taught in that course and ultimately that created an intimidating feeling of “I don’t know if I have the mental capability to understand everything in this course”. This thought almost caused me to stay in my comfort zone and choose a different course.

This got me thinking, how many people prevent themselves from God’s plan for them because of feeling intimidated by the task at hand? How many people choose to stay in the “okay” range? I used to think it was laziness, that they didn’t want to put in the hard work to get to that next level. Maybe they liked the attention of being in that “okay” level of life from others around them. Maybe it was the reliance of something that they weren’t willing to give up. However, more recently I have realized sure, it could be a conglomeration of factors, but I think the biggest is intimidation.

Intimidation ultimately is a tactic the devil uses to create fear, anxiety, and worthlessness, etc. For a perfectionist, like myself, intimidation roots from the understanding that we know the likelihood of doing that thing perfectly is slim to none. This hinders our desire to attempt that action. This lack of perfection causes a discomfort and anxiety-like state that tries to be avoided. The same manner goes for individuals who suffer from anxiety disorders or even depression. People might not feel worthy of achieving that next level of status so they stay in their comfort zone.

At the top of my head I can think of many instances in the Bible like Jonah, the Israelites 40 year journey, Daniel’s brothers etc… where intimidation or comfort slowed or prevented the ultimate plan. The story of three servants, found in Matthew 25:14-30, three servants were given varying amount of money. The servants who were given 5,000 and 2,000 shingles doubled their earnings by the time their master returned. But the individual with 1 thousand coins went and hid the coins until the master returned. Who would you have been? Realistically, a majority of us would have been the servant who hid the coins. We would have been intimidated at potentially losing the money or felt undeserving of the enormity of it, so we would have stayed in our comfort zone and hid the value.

It’s not necessarily that the individual did anything wrong, but he didn’t trust that God would have protected and blessed him. He prevented the opportunity of miracles used through him or that money, by hiding it and doing the most comfortable thing. He didn’t allow God to use him to the maximum potential. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. How much more could this individual have been blessed if he had not been intimidated by the 'what ifs' and just trusted the God is. I encourage you to step out in faith, trust the process, and don’t let the intimidation tactic the devil uses to prevent your full God given potential.