The REAL Truth About Leaving Your Comfort Zone...

The Real Truth About Leaving Your Comfort Zone (and Why Some Comfort Zones Are Necessary)

Have you ever heard someone say, “You’ll never grow unless you leave your comfort zone”? While there’s wisdom in stepping out of familiar spaces, let’s take a moment to re-examine this advice. Imagine this scenario: You’re a diver in a safety cage, and a shark circles outside. Suddenly, the shark says, “You’re never going to grow unless you leave the comfort of that cage.”

Sounds absurd, right? That’s because it is. Sometimes, your comfort zone is precisely where you need to be.

What’s Wrong with the All-or-Nothing Mentality?

The idea that you must abandon every comfort zone to grow oversimplifies the human experience. Not all comfort zones are created equal. Some protect you, foster healing, or create the stability needed to thrive. Others, however, can stagnate you, keeping you from becoming the person God has called you to be.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Growth doesn’t mean recklessly abandoning safety; it means discerning the right time and place to step out.

When Comfort Zones Are Life-Giving

Like the diver’s safety cage, some comfort zones provide the environment needed to process life’s challenges. They allow you to recharge, find clarity, and build resilience. Neuroscience even supports this. The brain requires periods of safety and predictability to repair itself and manage stress effectively.

Think about Jesus retreating to the wilderness for prayer (Luke 5:16). He wasn’t running away from growth—He was preparing for it. In the same way, your comfort zone can be a place where you connect with God, regain strength, and prepare for what lies ahead.

The Dangers of Overstaying

On the flip side, if the diver never leaves the safety cage, they miss the beauty of the ocean. Overstaying in a comfort zone can make you complacent, hindering both spiritual and personal growth.

Saint Isaac the Syrian wrote, “The man who follows Christ in solitary mourning is greater than he who praises Christ amid the congregation of men.” Growth often requires stepping into uncertainty, trusting God to lead you through it.

Finding the Balance

So, how do you know when to stay in the cage and when to venture out? The key is prayerful discernment. Ask yourself:

• Am I staying here because it’s wise, or because it’s easy?

• Is this a season of preparation, or am I avoiding what God is calling me to do?

• Have I asked God for guidance about this decision?

Making Comfort Zones Holy

Your comfort zones aren’t inherently good or bad. What matters is how you use them. When you invite God into your decisions, even your moments of rest become sacred.

Psalm 37:23 says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in His way.” Trust that God will guide your steps—whether they lead you to stay, step out, or prepare for what’s next.

The Truth About Growth

Growth doesn’t always look like leaving everything behind. Sometimes, it means knowing when to stay anchored in the safety of God’s provision. Other times, it means stepping out into the unknown, trusting that He will carry you.

So, the next time someone tells you to leave your comfort zone, think about the diver and the shark. There’s a time for the cage, and there’s a time for the open water. Let God show you the difference.