When God Calls You Out of Your Comfort Zone
“Help me to stay mindful of You as I go step by step through this day. Your Presence with me is a precious promise— and a comforting protection.”
– Jesus Listens, October 29th
“Fear not, for I am with you.” —Isaiah 41:10
When my husband George felt a strong call to move our family to New York City for a ministry opportunity, I didn’t just hesitate—I resisted. The thought of uprooting our life and raising our kids in a place I associated with danger, ruthlessness, and spiritual dryness was overwhelming. I was afraid of the unknown. I was afraid of the fast-paced city life, dense crowds of people, the lack of space, and most of all, I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to protect my children from everything I felt called to shield them from.
I clung to safety like a lifeline. I called it “wisdom,” but truthfully, it was fear. I had to ask God: What is Your plan? Is it mine—or Yours—that leads to peace, purpose, and the kind of legacy I long to leave? In His mercy, God showed me that comfort can become a cage. It can keep you from the harvest He’s calling you to.
Here’s what I’ve learned about following God out of your comfort zone:
- Say Yes
I didn’t want to say yes to New York City. I loved our life, our church, our routines. I wanted control. But in prayer, God gently asked me: Will you trust Me with what you love most? That question unraveled me.
For me, the biggest idol wasn’t money or success—it was my children. I had made their comfort and safety the ultimate priority. But anything that comes before obedience to God, even good things, can quietly become an idol.
New York City is only about 3% Christian. It’s a mission field like no other, filled with people from every corner of the globe. In hindsight, I realize I almost missed God’s plan because I didn’t have a Kingdom mindset. But when I finally said yes, I opened the door to a bigger, more beautiful story than I could have imagined. We planted a thriving church in the heart of the city—a place I initially didn’t even want to be part of.
Your yes might not look like a move across the country. It might be a career shift, a hard conversation, a calling to forgive, or a simple step into an unfamiliar ministry. Whatever it is, God honors your surrender. He doesn’t need your perfection—just your yes.
- Get Uncomfortable
Let’s be honest: we cannot advance the Kingdom of God and stay comfortable. They are not compatible.
I remember God clearly asking me: Do you want to be comfortable—or do you want to build my Kingdom? Because you can’t have it both ways.
That moment was defining. It forced me to ask myself what kind of legacy I wanted to leave. Was I building a life that felt safe, or was I building one that would echo in eternity?
Obedience often looks like risk. It can feel like stepping off a cliff with nothing but trust as your parachute. But faith doesn’t flourish in ease—it grows in the stretching, the wrestling, the unknown.
Every uncomfortable yes has borne fruit I never could’ve imagined. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it.
- Allow God to Rewrite Your Future
When we said yes to NYC, we thought we were just moving. We had no idea God was rewriting our story. His math is never subtraction—it’s multiplication.
Recently, George and I finished writing our first marriage book together. This was a dream I didn’t even know I had. But every time I sat down to write, I heard the enemy whisper, Who do you think you are? Remember who you used to be?
But that’s just it. I do remember who I used to be—and I know who God is making me into. Only God can take a fearful mom who once said no to NYC and turn her into a church planter, city dweller, public speaker, and now, a co-author.
There is more to your story. Who are you to deny what the Lord can do?
Say yes. Get uncomfortable. Let God rewrite your future.
You never know what God might build with your surrender. If you’re feeling the nudge to step out of your comfort zone, don’t ignore it. The safest place to be is not in a familiar setting—but in the center of God’s will.
Your obedience might just be the key to unlocking someone else’s breakthrough. Let God lead. He won’t waste your yes.
“Jesus tells his disciples that those who have left their homes, wives, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of the Kingdom of God will receive much more in this life and have eternal life in the coming age.” —Luke 18:29–30
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tondra Gregory is a nationally recognized marriage and relationship coach, speaker, and author. She has a Master’s degree in Counselor Education from North Carolina State University and holds a License of Mental Health Counselor from the New York State’s Education Department.
Tondra and her husband, George Gregory, serve as NFL Chaplains for the Los Angeles Chargers. Together they co-authored The Marriage Game Plan, a biblically based, practical guide for couples who want to win at marriage God’s way. They are also the founders of Journey for Life, a marriage ministry dedicated to helping couples be proactive about building healthy relationships and winning in marriage.
Learn more at journeyforlifenow.org and @journeyforlifenow
