Rhonda and Kaley Rhea are my guests today! Keep reading to find out more about chocolate and comfort zones, and to enter for a chance to win a copy of their new book, “Turtles in the Road.”
We both love a nice, cozy comfort zone. By “comfort zone,” about eighty percent of the time we probably mean “chocolate zone.” Did you hear about the recent study that determined that 10 out of 9 people love chocolate? It doesn’t even matter that the math doesn’t work. Know why? Chocolate.
Since people are finding more ways all the time that chocolate is good for your health, we’ve decided that we shall never at any time of our lives think of ourselves as “overweight.” We shall forever refer to it as “chocolate-enriched.”
That’s our comfort zone and we’re sticking to it.
We just recently somewhat stepped out of our non-chocolate-related comfort zone to write a romantic comedy about a gal who was forced outside her…well, on theme…outside her comfort zone. The book is titled, Turtles in the Road and, not to give anything away, but our deliciously funny character finds laughs, grace and all kinds of adventure in her most uncomfy places.
There are comfort zones, and then there are comfort zones. When God commissioned Joshua after the death of Moses, He gave Joshua instructions about the new land He was to possess. He said to him, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, ESV).
Sometimes God calls us to step out of everything comfortable. We see it all through Scripture. God called Moses to step out before the mantle was passed to Joshua. God called Abraham to leave his home and everything familiar to him to take off to zones unknown. He called Samuel, He called Isaiah, He called so many more. Jesus called His disciples to step away from their nets, out of their comfortable lives, and to follow Him with abandon.
There aren’t a lot of things in this life we can promise will happen, but we can promise this. At some point you will be called to step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be caught off guard. Don’t think you’re being reprimanded. And even more importantly, don’t think for a second that He is not with you in that less-than-comfy place. Be strong. Be courageous. Know He is with you.
It’s good to remember that stepping out of our comfort zone is also stepping into the comfort of His Holy Spirit. It’s amazing—even in discomfort, there’s comfort! Real comfort from The Comforter. It’s comfort not in a place, not in a possession, not in a food—it’s in a Person, the Person of our mighty God of all comfort.
As you step out in faith, you’ll find there’s growth in every new place the Lord leads you. You can rest assured He will never ask you to step out of one zone and into another without His presence, without His purpose or without His empowering.
It’s a God-enriched life. And as awesome as a chocolate-enriched life is, a God-enriched one is infinitely better.
To enter for a chance to win a copy of “Turtles in the Road,” share your most comfortable comfort zone in the comments! Winner will be drawn Thursday, May 11th at 8am!
Mother/daughter writing duo, Rhonda Rhea and Kaley Rhea, are the authors of Turtles in the Road, an inspirational humorous romance that’s just releasing. They are both TV personalities for Christian Television Network’s KNLJ in mid-Missouri. Rhonda is also a nationally-known speaker, humor columnist and author of 11 other books, including Fix-Her-Upper, a soon-releasing nonfiction project coauthored with Beth Duewel. Rhonda is married to her pastor/husband, Richie Rhea, and they have five grown children and two grandbabies. Kaley works at Missouri Baptist University and she and Rhonda both live in the St. Louis area. You can find “Turtles in the Road” at Bold Vision Books and Amazon.
This sounds ridiculous and is not typical for any man to admit publicly, but my true comfort zone is beside my wife. I can be anywhere in any situation, good or bad, as long as she is by my side I am strong and able. If I can see her face, touch her hand, or hear her voice I am comforted. She has seen me through a lot of tough times and has never wavered. She is my God sent rock!
I think that is wonderful! Thank you for sharing that. You are entered in the drawing!
That’s about the sweetest thing ever, Gary–what a blessing!
I have felt God’s comfort in many ways during my life, but the most amazing expression of His comfort came to me during my cancer diagnosis and treatment in 2013. The day I got the report of a bad mammogram I immediately surrendered it all to Jesus. I tend to be a “fixer” at heart, but I knew there was no way I could fix anything about this. He quickly and gently gave me His complete comfort and walked me through surgery and treatment. It was the peace that passes all understanding kind of comfort. It was His perfect comfort. It was amazing!
What a beautiful testimony, Carol, thank you for sharing it!
Wow, so timely. I am always amazed how when God leads, He feeds. This is exactly what I needed to read.
I have suddenly been hit with the realization of how comfortable I have become since breaking free of a previous comfort zone, years back.
He is leading us on to unknown territory. Scary as that may seem, I know He is right beside us.