I like to think I have a pretty big “Comfort Zone.”

There are many things that I’ll do that your average person wouldn’t. After all, I moved halfway across the country to join an intensive writing program. I left my family, my friends, and, most importantly, my brother’s cat, who is madly in love with me.

I was all in for this program….

Until this past week, that is.

Part of what makes an apprenticeship with The Company so unique is how Brad, the director, will push you to be the best that you can be. And I thought I was doing really well at being pushed. There are some days you walk into school, and you have no idea what you’ll be doing that day. Like the time we walked in at 8:30 am expecting a regular school day, only to be ushered into the car 10 minutes later for a 4+ hour car trip to go check out the Asbury Revival.

My Comfort Zone.

After completing Lawless (which is available on Amazon), I thought I’d finally been pushed to my limit. Surely, I remember thinking to myself one Friday afternoon as I finished up my final tasks for Lawless and set the project down, surely this is the peak of my time here at the school. Smooth sailings until graduation…right?

Then, a couple weeks ago, Brad called me down to his office to give me a new assignment.

He told me that for the next four weeks, I needed to go live on Facebook and Instagram for 20 minutes three times a week—that’s twelve 20-minute videos.

I thought really hard about moving to Canada to avoid the assignment. I thought about refusing—how much trouble would I really get into? Then, I thought I’d go to the only person who could truly help me in this situation. God.

I prayerfully asked Him to step into this assignment. To show me what He was doing here. Maybe I’d get an answer that could help me avoid it!

He took me to John 15.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit.”

John 15:1-2

I was struck with a single, penetrating thought.

Doesn’t He ever just leave the poor branch alone?!

Almost immediately after, I felt a small tug on my heart, and a thought struck me. Would I really want to be left alone?

Begrudgingly, I admitted that, no, I wouldn’t. I don’t want to stay stuck in my own mess. To stay comfortable is to stay complacent to my inequity. God meets you where you’re at, for sure…and then He pulls you out of your mess. He continuously grows you—I don’t think it ever stops. I don’t want it to ever stop.

How are you overcoming your comfort zone?

It’s scary to step outside the comfort zone. In our day and age, if doing something causes you anxiety, that’s enough of an excuse to not do it anymore. But what if God wanted more for you than just sticking to the sidelines?

Stepping outside your comfort zone could mean sharing your writing with someone for critique. It could mean submitting to an online magazine for publication (if so, check out The Pearl, which is open for submissions!). It could even mean sitting down and writing that scene you feel you aren’t good enough to write.

It’s really helpful to have someone who pushes you. There’s only so much I’d do on my own (in my writing and in my personal life). So, I have a challenge for you.

Ask God how you can step outside your comfort zone. He may surprise you with His answer!

And don’t forget to follow my Instagram and Facebook to keep up with these live videos!

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And please enjoy this photo of my brother’s cat, Melvin, as promised!

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Another great way to step outside your comfort zone is to sign up for my weekly newsletter!